There are a few of the (much tougher) species tulips you might like to try. Firstly, the tiny t.humilis, in various colours. Taller, but lovely with blooms which open flat like little flying saucers - tulipa clusiana, aka the lady tulip - pink and white or pale yellow and soft red. T,Tarda - small yellow and white, very easy and will increase T.batalini - my favourites (apart from sprengeri - more later) - lovely glaucous foliage and pale yellow or apricot blooms - very reliable T.praestans, t.hageri, t.vvedensky (sp?) - all reds and oranges - often multi-headed, larger fatter leaves T,urumiensis - a tiny bronze and pale yellow. T,albo-caerulea - expensive but unique blue and white blooms Finally, my favourite (and last to bloom) the lovely t.sprengeri. These use root droppers to dig themselves 14inches deep into the soil and have tiny bulbs - unlikely to be eaten and are the only tulips which will grow in some shade. A lovely woodland clearing specimen. I find that the species tulips, as long as they get good drainage and a dry baking in summer, are totally reliable, easy and are often less devoured by other rodents....as well as being more interesting and unusual than the garden tulips (although I grow many of both).

Too late for onions, maybe potatoes too though I still have a lot (storebought organic) sprouting in the basement. Too early for garlic - I'd like to get something going before the weeds. May try summer squash (always need more room for that) or pumpkins if you think they'll leave them alone. I've got 3 oregano plants growing in concrete blocks, may start some mint in there but I'm afraid of it spreading if I just plant it in the ground. But what kind of "bitter" herb are you thinking Dave, can you give examples? Something that won't spread? Is it too late for turnips? DH would like those. I know they'll go for beans (nibbled what grew outside the fence last year). 2 years ago they kicked my seed potatoes out of the ground so we fenced that area (where I put the beans last year). Don't know about kale - was thinking of starting some more for fall, already have some in house garden with the lettuce. And they do eat cabbage, so brassicas aren't necessarily safe. Was thinking it was about time for sweet potatoes, if I can get the slips ASAP, but since the leaves are edible (not toxic like nightshades) will they just munch them to the ground? Do sweet potatoes need a trellis? I can't do the fish repellent b/c of the bears and other predators that might start digging.

Plants my cat *loves:* * Dracaena marginata. Maybe because it looks like pet grass? Got it because I thought it might be tall enough to be out of her reach, but she'll stand on the planter and nibble on it! * Peace lilies. She'll nibble on whole leaves! She's eaten so much of it in the 6 months or so that I've had it, it's now smaller than when I bought it :( Plants she hasn't touched yet: * Pachira Aquatica (I've had it for a few weeks/month now). I got a taller version (waist/stomach height), but some of its leaves are still low enough that she can reach, especially with her planter-standing method. However, so far I haven't seen any nibbles! Fingers crossed that she doesn't grow accustomed to its scent or something of the sort and becomes more curious! * Snake plant. I didn't realize this plant was toxic for cats, but thankfully it's always been housed in areas she can't frequent -- in a hard-to-reach spot of a kitchen counter/island (I had it surrounded by cookbooks and my coffee maker) or its current spot at the top of a bookshelf. They don't require loads of light, so it's easier to position these plants somewhere you can enjoy, but your cat can't. * Succulents. I've kept a couple in window sills year-round and she hasn't touched them. Although I don't recommend keeping succulents indoors unless you have super bright Southern sunlight or grow lights. I had an Echeveria Green Goddess that is etiolated slightly from my mostly Southern, slightly Eastern window. I think I'll stick with sedums/Graptopetalum Paraguayense (which I think still look attractive with their sliiiiight legginess) for indoors year-round.

Chris, I think you can grow any of them in pots, the larger the better. Too bad you can't grow them outside with all your veggies. You can dig them up and pot them to overwinter them. How is the lemongrass doing? I'm still interested if you've got extras. Tom