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Garden Prints: Dinner Theater for the Cats

© Carol Wallace

One thing cats have in common with many of us is that they enjoy living a life of luxury. While their idea of luxury can often be quite different than ours, it is usually also a lot more economical than the things we think of as luxuries for humans. They don't demand caviar and champagne, silk sheets or solid teak lounge chairs in the garden. Their wardrobe needs are minimal. And even if they are finicky eaters they are small enough that it doesn't cost to give them something elegant.

But, like us, they do love to be entertained.

In fact, both we and the cats enjoy having food and drink handy while we enjoy a show. Going out to a live show falls into the luxury class for many. And sometimes, our idea of what makes a great show coincides with theirs. So here is a great activity for both cats and their owners - or is it humans and their owners? It can be hard to tell.

At any rate - if you plant carefully you can create a form of dinner theater that will be as enjoyable for you as it will be for your furry friends. I'm talking vegetarian, by the way. Strictly non-fattening and herby - lo cal all the way although you couldn't tell it by looking at the cats enjoying my dinner theater in the photos.

How often have you sat, cup of coffee in one hand while you watched a pair of butterflies do an aerial ballet? It's a wonderful show. And watch your cat when those butterflies start dancing.. They are fascinated. To them (and to me!) it's better than TV. They are the theater part of this garden plan - attracted by a silvery buddleia bush and a nice clump of echinacea, two plants that are absolute butterfly magnets. Buddleia in my yard are also popular with the sphinx moths - those peculiar little creatures that resemble minute hummingbirds - another good show.

My cats are also intrigued by hummingbirds - and the little creatures dart back and forth so quickly that the cats, snoozing in the sun, only follow them with their eyes. A Lobelia cardinalis 'Dark Crusader' with it's deep, blackish burgundy leaves and flowers of such a bright red as to resemble neon are a sure fire invitation to the hummers. It also adds some depth and excitement to the garden design. As a bonus - it will be as happy growing right in the pond as it will be growing around it. Lobelie really enjoys bog conditions.

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