Taming Giant Cat Mint

My friend Jana offered me a design challenge. I love a good challenge, especially when it involves two of my favorite things, art & gardening. Jana needed to artfully tame her perennial Giant Cat Mint. She currently used 7’ garden stakes and twine to keep the tall plants upright, especially after a heavy rain. Because her kitchen bay window looks out onto her the garden area where the Cat Mint grows, she wanted something more permanent that would be artful enough for year round installation and she could hang small white lights on during the dark, snowy winter months. I decided on using panels of concrete mesh with hand bent, welded round stock. I welded reinforced upside

down, u-shaped rebar on the bottom of the free standing “trellis-style” panels for sturdiness. I came up with the idea of using a series of bamboo poles skewered through the grid to restrain the towering plants. The bamboo can be skewered up the grid as the plants grow throughout the summer and removed after the plants are cut back in the fall. Jana loved the panels and so did I. I think I’ll make a couple for myself and plant some climbers next season.

xOx

On Tuesday, I was flattered to be nominated for a “Life Is Good Award” by Linda Starr. What I like about Blogger awards is by being recognized

with others helps widen my circle of routinely read Blogs and it’s an opportunity to learn about other people and their interests or even learn more about existing Blog friends. Seeing images of where people live and work around the world is my favorite part, or if even for a moment, it takes me out of my own zone of 99503.

Before I can accept this award, I must answer the 10 questions below and pass the award and questions on to six fellow bloggers.

1. If you Blog anonymously, are you happy doing it that way; if you are not anonymous do you wish you had started out anonymously so you could be anonymous now?

I’ve never been anonymous. Anonymity is not for the brave and I’m working on being braver.

2. Describe one incident which shows your inner stubborn side

My stubborn side is not so "inner"...I’m sure my husband and kids could answer this better than I.

3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the face in the mirror?

I’m surprised that I look older than I feel and I should probably wear makeup.

4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Mikes Hard Limeade

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

Go to a bookstore or eat Tamales.

6. Is there something you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

There are so many things but near the top would be find a free a PhD program to pursue and be a cake decorator.

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the class shy person, or always ditching school? Describe who you were if not one of these.

The class clown who ditched to go skiing.

8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what do you see?

Holding each of my 3 kids right after they were born.

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your Blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

It’s easy for me to share using filters.

10. If you had the choice to sit and read or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

READ!

I'm passing this award on to these fellow Bloggers who celebrate life in their own way. My days are virtually traveled and more entertaining because of the words and images of these fellow Bloggers. Please visit these Blogs, they're a good read and all for different reasons. Thanks to Linda, my "friend across the miles" for your insightful and talented writing of Blue Starr Gallery Blog in FL and for nominating my Blog for this award. In no particular order here are my six picks:

Ang -Ang Design Blog

Linda -Linda's Bees

Hollis - Hatchville Pottery

Jen -The Amazing Trips

Jim -Sofia's Dad's Pots

Judy -Painted Threads

To accept the award you must answer the 10 questions and nominate six other bloggers. Go ahead spread the winnings –life is good.