Gardening
Keep Your Houseplants Safe from Cats
Cat grass kits are easy to grow and provide fresh, healthy wheatgrass, oat grass, and/or ryegrass for cats to nibble on instead of your plants.
Photo courtesy of True Leaf Market
Growing houseplants when curious cats are in the house can be challenging. We want our cats to be safe and happy while keeping our houseplants intact. You can accomplish both with a few simple strategies.
Boost indoor gardening success by selecting plants suited to your home's growing conditions and gardening style. Then be sure to remove any toxic plants to ensure your pet's safety. Consult with your veterinarian and visit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) website for a list of pet-safe and toxic plants.
Create a list of all the plants you are growing. Include both common and botanical names for accurate identification. Do a bit of research on the care they need and their toxicity to your pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested a toxic plant, you'll have the proper plant name when contacting your veterinarian.
Match the pet-friendly plants you select to their preferred light conditions. An east- or west-facing window provides enough light for most indoor plants. Keep those that need brighter light within two feet of a window. Those that prefer lower light can be grown near a north-facing window or up to six feet back or off to the side of an east- or west-facing window.
Keep toxic plants out of the reach of curious cats. This can be challenging if your cat is skilled at jumping and climbing. There are so many beautiful houseplants it may be safer to simply avoid those that are toxic.
Make your houseplants less appealing to your cat with the smell of citrus. Spray a mixture of lemon, lime, or orange juice diluted with some water on the leaves of your plant. Or purchase one of the commercial mixes. If you don't want to spray your plants, place citrus peels in the pot.
Give your cat a pot of grass to nibble on and enjoy instead of your houseplants. Most cat grass kits contain wheatgrass, oat grass, ryegrass, or a mixture of these. A pot of cat grass can help entertain your cat, provide fiber and some micronutrients, and aid in digestion.
There are several theories as to cats' attraction to greenery. One theory suggests plants were used to help them regurgitate undigested parts of their prey. Many cat owners find it also works for hairballs. Another theory suggests that greens provide vitamins and minerals, may promote health, and aid in digestion.
Busy and new gardeners can successfully grow a pot of cat grass. Look for an easy-care growing kit like True Leaf Market's Organic Self-Watering Cat Grass Kit (trueleafmarket.com). You'll only need to fill the water reservoir twice a week and the container helps eliminate messes and spills that often happen with traditional pots.
Prevent curious cats from knocking over any of your plant containers with the help of mounting putty. A couple of pieces on the bottom of the pot will help reduce the risk of toppling.
Prevent cats from using indoor plants as litter boxes. Cover the soil surface with coarse mulch, like cork or large nugget mulch. If this is not an option, spray the soil surface with the citrus and water mix to help discourage digging.
Regular play can entertain your cat, help reduce stress, and even reduce plant nibbling. This is also good for your well-being and the beauty of your indoor plants.
Implement these strategies and you'll be able to help your cats and plants coexist in your home.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including The Midwest Gardener's Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses "How to Grow Anything" DVD series and the nationally-syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by True Leaf Market for her expertise to write this article. Her web site is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Antiques
Latest Antiques, Collectibles, and Auction News
There's been plenty of antique and collectibles news since my last update, starting with some local news. The Brimfield Antique Show is held on fields that run for about a mile along Route 20. Those fields are owned by 16 individuals and one of the largest fields, the New England Motel, just changed hands. MassLive reports that Adam J. Skowyra of Brimfield, his brother Joshua M. and father Leslie M. Skowyra purchased the property from John K. Doldoorian and Robert Doldoorian. The Doldoorians will stay on for a year to help the new owners learn the business. The New England Motel can accommodate 400 dealers and the large food court at the show is also part of the New England Motel property.
In news from the other side of the country, a rare Harley Davidson broke an auction record in Las Vegas last month. The 1908 Strap Tank Harley-Davidson gained its name because the "nickel-plated steel bands suspended the fuel and oil tanks from the bike's frame," according to Fox Business News. The piece that set the record was restored from its original parts, including the wheels and tank. The motorcycle was discovered in a Wisconsin barn in 1941, but the man who found it kept it for 66 years. Of the 450 manufactured, only 12 are known to still be in existence. It revved up to a sale price of $935,000.
Across the Atlantic, rare James Bond posters will be auctioned in London next month. The United Kingdom's Chard and Ilminster news reports that a full set of posters from all six of Sean Connery's James Bond movies are heading to the block. A 1963 poster from the second James Bond movie, From Russia with Love, has a pre-auction estimate of £8,000 ($9,635) to £16,000 ($19,270). A poster for Connery's first performance in Dr. No is expected to sell for even more. It has a low estimate of £10,000 ($12,044) and a high estimate of £20,000 ($24,088).
Back in the U.S.A., the iconic chocolate box used during filming for Forrest Gump made international news when it sold at auction recently. One of the movie's most famous lines takes place when Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) sits next to a stranger and offers her a chocolate. He says "my mama always said, 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.'" The American Film Industry ranks the line as the 40th greatest movie quote. Ripley's Believe it or Not was the winning bidder and the box sold for $25,000. But chocolate lovers may be disappointed to learn that the box was full of sand, not chocolates. The weight of the sand made it easier to keep the box on the actor's lap during filming. You really never know what you're going to get.
We currently have three auctions in the work. We'll be running another online session of model trains, diecast cars and other toys from a West Boylston estate within a month. The Beacon Street Boston home we catalogued last year recently sold and our online auction of the personal property will also begin in March. Lastly, we have been gathering a wide range of items including jewelry, sterling silver, art, antique toys, baseball cards and comic books for our spring multi-estate auction. We expect that will take place in late spring. Please visit our website https://centralmassauctions.com for links to upcoming events.
Please contact us at: www.centralmassauctions.com (508-612- 6111) info@centralmassauctions.com for antiques and collectibles auction services.