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| Dogbane a.k.a. ScaredyCat (Coleus caninus a.k.a. Plectranthus caninus) Flowers |
The dogbane plant is apparently also known as scaredy cat plant, and it seems to have two scientific names according to internet sources: Coleus caninus and Plectranthus caninus. The leaves have a strong smell which is supposed to repel dogs and cats; I don't know if it actually does, I still have cats in the garden, but, I don't see them lolling around in the plant, either. I have taken a few cuttings and planted them in the front garden, under the eucalyptus tree and they seem to be doing okay, there. Maybe I'll take more cuttings and plant them around any vegetable plants I might grow this year, to see if they will discourage certain kitties from getting into the planting beds! Remember this picture from last year?
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| Mama Cat in the Squash and Tomato Plants |
It was another sunny day, on Wednesday, with a daytime high of 68F, but, it felt much warmer than that in the sun. I had gone to bed at 3:45 a.m., but, I couldn't fall asleep until after 5:00 a.m. Then, of course, Dancer woke me up at around 7:00 a.m. and I gave him his breakfast. I went back to sleep and woke up at 10:00 a.m.
M was here later in the morning to tend to the garden. He admired the croton plant, planted the bulbs for me, and did a lot of pruning in the front garden. We thinned out the Euphorbia tirucalli growing along the side wall, to let in more sunshine on the other succulents growing there and thinned out the new growth on the feijoa (pineapple guava) tree growing by the side of the house. The gas meter is located near that tree and I wanted the branches cut back to give better access to the gas meter. Afterwards, he weeded the parkway - even though we put down the pebbles, the rains we had have encouraged some weeds to push through.
Later in the afternoon, I put in an order for groceries. With daughter staying another week, we needed a few more groceries. I will do a separate grocery post, later. Since I've already spent my March grocery budget, I'm going to consider today's grocery order as the first of April's grocery orders! I picked up the groceries at 3:00 p.m. and picked up some hamburgers and fries for our brunch, with a buy one get one free coupon, for our brunch.
In the evening, after daughter had finished her work for the day, we took Dancer for a long overdue visit to the vet! I gave him the sedative an hour before his appointment and while he was not exactly happy about being put in his carrier and taken in the car, he was less stressed and daughter sitting with him and speaking soothingly to him probably helped, too. He received the injection for his arthritis and had some blood work done to test his thyroid levels. The vet will call me back once the test results are in, to see if we need to make any further adjustments to his medication.
After we came home, we had tea (me) and coffee (daughter) and I watched the last 15 minutes of the nightly news.
Then, it was time to cook dinner. I had bought some shrimp (on sale for $6.99/lb.) when I ordered groceries, and I made a shrimp curry while daughter put the rice to boil. I also took out the package of passionfruit pulp that I had frozen and made a jug of passionfruit drink to have with our dinner. Dancer had a bit of tuna as a special treat, for his dinner, to make up for having to go to the vet's clinic!
On Wednesday, I was grateful for:
- M's help with the garden
- Being able to order and pick up groceries without any problems
- Vet care for Dancer
- Daughter being there to help with taking Dancer to the vet's
- Chatting on the phone with my half-sister
Wednesday's joyful activity was planting the newly purchased bulbs with M.
No special plans for Thursday. I might do a load of laundry (the sofa dust sheets), and the kitchen counters could do with some clearing and wiping down.
How was your Wednesday? Any special plans for Thursday?
Hi Bless! So nice to see your daughter still there. I hope your clot is continuing healing on its own. This is a beautiful time for your gardens (and cats!). andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea. It's been a blessing to have my daughter with me at this time. Yes, the blood clot is starting to go away and it's not as painful. Spring is the best time for my garden. Once the summer comes around, everything turns brown!
DeleteI'm glad Dancer was reasonably calm for his trip to the Vet. It sounds like you had a busy day. Love FD xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, FD. It took awhile for the sedative to go into effect, so, next time, I'll give it to him even earlier (I'm supposed to give it to him one to two hours prior to the visit).
DeleteYour dogbane/scaredy cat plant had me wondering if fleabane repels fleas. Apparently, it doesn't, but some believe it does.
ReplyDeleteI guess it was considered a flea repellent at one time? I did read that it is a deer deterrent, so, maybe something good to have in your garden? I also read that it is drought tolerant, so, I'm thinking that it might be something to grow in my garden, too!
DeleteI didn’t know anything about dogbane. Very interesting. I love your idea to grow poppies in the front garden. They’re so pretty.
ReplyDeleteIt’s turned into a steady work week.
We’re having cheeseburgers for dinner with potatoes cooked like fries and salad, so an easy and fast meal.
We’re expecting the plumber this evening. Husband has snaked and tried everything to unclog a sink, but it’s time to get a professional.
With 5 weekends in March, I’ll have an extra grocery shop. It all balances out eventually. 😊
I saw my neighbor's dog in my front garden, the other day, doing what dogs do, while the neighbor was working on his car. I asked the dog what it was doing in my garden and tried to shoo it off and the neighbor quickly called the dog off which it happily ignored, until the neighbor came and carried it away (its a small dog, but, they never pick up after him). I told the neighbor he should have the dog on a leash, but, I don't know if he even understood what I was saying. Or, maybe he understood, but, conveniently pretended not to. Anyway, I think some dogbane along the outer edge might be helpful!
DeleteI hope you enjoyed your steady workweek and cheeseburger dinner! Hope the plumber was able to unclog the sink - a blocked sink is always a problem, especially when there's a holiday meal to prepare!
I forgot that there were five weekends in March! But, as you say, it all balances out, eventually. :)
It might be fun to grow some Catnip right next to the Dogbane and watch the cats get confused! The flowers are pretty. Is the strong smell acceptable to humans? I like aromatic plants on the whole.
ReplyDeleteLOL, I don't know if I want to grow catnip and attract even more cats to my garden! I like the smell of the plant, but, both M and my daughter think it stinks! Then, again, I have an odd sense of smell - I can't smell lavender, for example.
DeleteThat makes sense to use the April budget for your groceries. I'm sure Dancer appreciated your daughter's soothing voice and comfort.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephenie; that's what I thought, too, because I doubt if I'll do as much grocery shopping in April when I'm alone, again. I think Dancer was happy to have my daughter reassuring him that he'll be OK. He hates car rides!
DeleteSounds like a busy day! Glad daughter was there to help you with Dancer. Cats are quite independent, aren't they? Going over the grocery budget is allowed as daughter is visiting - worth every penny lol
ReplyDeleteYes, I felt that it was a busy day (by my standards, anyway!). It was a big help that daughter was there to carry the carrier in and try to comfort Dancer. Thank you, Sharon; I decided to treat having daughter home as being on a holiday and not worry about sticking to a budget. I want to indulge and spoil her when she comes down to visit and it give me an excuse to indulge and splurge a bit, too! :)
DeleteUsing part of your April budget makes sense. My pension which is usually paid on Monday went in early because of the Easter long weekend as Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday. I'm glad Dancer was less stressed going to visit the vet.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I anticipate that April grocery spending will be well within budget. :) Enjoy your long weekend; Easter Monday is not a holiday, here. I had to give Dancer his sedative and he was less frantic on the car ride to the vet's and back. :)
DeleteThanks for the dogbane information. So is it a member of the coleus family? Very interesting plant.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting if it acts as a dog/cat discourager.
Having your daughter here to assist you with Dancer and the vet visit really must've made a difference. I hope his tests come back ok.
I think it makes sense to put this latest shop in April's budget.
Yeah for a burger treat! You haven't done that for a while.
You are welcome, Debra; yes, it is a member of the coleus family! I am going to wait until it finishes flowering and then, plant some cuttings in the front garden, along the lantana border and we'll see if it does anything!
DeleteIt was very helpful to have my daughter assist with taking Dancer to the vet's. She sat in the backseat with him in his carrier and reassured him and then, carried him in for me. I should hear from the vet about his results, next week.
Yes, April's grocery shopping should be well within the budget, I think, as I'll probably eat mostly from the freezer and pantry after daughter leaves.
Yes, it's been a while since I last had a hamburger meal, hasn't it? It'll probably be another while before I have another. :)