tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24376388.post1373624105076671905..comments2023-12-23T04:37:14.632-08:00Comments on Gaia Garden: Unsettling Questions This FallGaia Gardener:http://www.blogger.com/profile/00692281131036600613noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24376388.post-30331066502076234512011-12-23T20:47:35.599-08:002011-12-23T20:47:35.599-08:00We have a similar situation here, a neighbor's...We have a similar situation here, a neighbor's cat who has mostly adopted us, is just about the most lethal killin machine I've ever seen. He's so very sweet to people, but there were stretches of time this fall when we'd wake up to a freshly-killed squirrel every morning. Luckily, he hasn't killed many birds (that we know of) and it's mostly limited to squirrels. He has, however, brought us a hummingbird once...which kind of broke my heart. I had the same guilty feeling...all the plants I had that were attracting the birds was also, unfortunately, bringing them closer to the cat's clutches. Ultimately, I sort of feel like even if a few get caught, there are probably many more than are benefitting from my (and your) generosity :-)scottweberpdxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08740930947767329183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24376388.post-36782601248015006362011-11-05T08:08:12.353-07:002011-11-05T08:08:12.353-07:00We have a good chance of rain on Monday and Tuesda...We have a good chance of rain on Monday and Tuesday, according to the weather gurus. Wednesday I'm mulching. Decision made. If we haven't had rain after all, I'll just water as deeply as possible before covering it all up.<br /><br />I have dug under mulch after a rain and found the soil dry too often to risk mulching without there being soil moisture to start with.<br /><br />As far as the cat, I still have no good answer. I haven't actually seen Ranger catch one of the birds, so I don't know if he's getting them on the feeders or in the bushes. I suspect the latter. No more trophies in the last 2 days, so hopefully the birds are getting a little warier.Gaia Gardener:https://www.blogger.com/profile/00692281131036600613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24376388.post-22459106211988025062011-11-04T20:42:23.758-07:002011-11-04T20:42:23.758-07:00Oh, I feel your cat pain! Last winter I actually w...Oh, I feel your cat pain! Last winter I actually witnessed one of our cats leap up and catch a finch from the feeder. Amazing. .if I hadn't been so mad about it! The life span of a bird is short. .judging by the glance at the trees you have. .you'll have birds whether you feed them or not. .and they are still fair game for the cat. My sis-in-law is having the same problem. .he catches cardinals, woodpeckers and bluebirds. .My cats eat what they kill and don't bother dragging them up for my approval. .you poor thing!! As for the mulching. .We put in the cedar post fence. .and I slapped cardboard and wheat straw over the top. .I did water it several times. .and though the puny little rains don't soak through. .I was thoroughly amazed last week when I dug in bulbs how soft the soil actually was. The soil was poor soil. .with nothing but weeds coming up. .and bone hard when I started! We had to use an automated fence post hole digger AND soak the ground to get the holes dug when we started!! My vote is to mulch and water several times on nice days! We barely got any moisture last week, but more chances to come this week! Praying for another 1 1/2 inches like we had last month!Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476707833109337386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24376388.post-25201136404144415062011-11-04T17:36:30.867-07:002011-11-04T17:36:30.867-07:00I don't know about Ranger. We have feeders an...I don't know about Ranger. We have feeders and the neighborhood cats like to stalk the birds. I think they get a few but they aren't bringing them to my door so I don't have a count. <br />I watered well and mulched everywhere it was thin. Last fall, I did not deep soak in the fall thinking the rain and snow would come. It didn't and plants suffered. Hopefully, I have given them a boost to make it through winter a little better. If I don't mulch, it dries out worse. I don't know if it's better to water then mulch or mulch then water. Hmmmm.Gardener on Sherlock Streethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11367115529793643362noreply@blogger.com