"Pest" Control

   After planting seeds (especially beans, cucumbers, and squash), I cover the ground with plastic netting to keep cats - mostly neighbourhood cats - from inadvertently digging them up. 

   Once the seeds have sprouted and are about an inch tall, I remove the netting and place bamboo stakes, kebab skewers, chopsticks, etc. around the plants to keep the cats out.

   As you can see, it is extremely effective.  *sigh/grin*

   Our cats don't dig so much as roll around on, and sleep in, the warm dirt.  They know the little plants get a lot of my attention and that we seem to become very animated when they roll around near these little plants (which makes them roll with even more enthusiasm).  I have learned not to speak or react when they do this!  With Bea, all you have to do is look in her general direction and she will do the adorable-head-tilt-and-body-slam manoeuvre into whatever vegetable happens to be closest to her.  

    When I spotted her in the Tiger Eye beans yesterday, I quietly took pictures and came inside, leaving the front door ajar.  Usually, once we have left the scene, she hops out of the container or leaves the garden and comes inside.  

   Not yesterday.  This is her 20 minutes later:  blissed out, belly in the air, front paws stretched over the side of the container.  (Picture taken through the window.)

    The bean plants that survive this bliss-squish will certainly be hardy!