Years ago I bought a pkg of catnip seeds. Tossed them in the garden by the back door. They grew. The kitties loved them! Came up again years after - had a hard time though because the kitties would find them and roll (and roll, and roll...) on them as soon as they broke ground. They also self seeded like mad. Became a 'weed'.
Then I covered that garden with chips. No more catnip, alas. Have catmint - which the kitties never much cared for. But once the nip was gone..... Patches (my neighbour's cat) comes every afternoon long about 4. Flops in it. Stays there for about an hour, then wanders (staggers?) back home again. Patches, by the way, was then 12. Is now 15. Still coming for his afternoon 'drink'.
But.... Ever notice how, if you don't want something in your garden, it grows like crazy? But if you do want it, it won't grow for love nor money? I have spent several years now trying to get the 'real' catnip to grow again. Doesn't matter whether I seed inside or out. Doesn't matter which of my 15 gardens I toss the seed into (and only 2 have the chips!). Won't grow. Not at all. Never. Nada. Nothing.
So I went on Friday and bought 18 catnip plants. Cost me $68. (they better appreciate this!!!!) Well, I guess they did. Put 3 in. Next morning there was nothing whatever left of them. Not even stems. Had them right down to the ground. Must have been quite the party! Put 9 more in - at various locations thinking that they couldn't possibly hit all of them. Well.... Apparently I have been hosting the equivalent of cat 'raves' here the past several nights..........
Still have 5. (gave one to a perfect girl I cat-sitted two weeks ago). Put one in a hanging pot where, no doubt, it'll annoy them furiously. But maybe it'll survive. Still have the other 4..... Am thinking....
