Red Butte Gardens, An Evening Date With My Husband. July 2019

Sometimes people may wonder why I have the job I have.

Basically I work in a place that gives me a flexible schedule so 

that I can have time with my husband and children. 

I actually really enjoy my most recent of jobs. The reason I stay is that I

can ask to work certain hours that allow me to have more time to spend with my husband.

When we have an evening off I find a place for us to go to.  

My husband is wonderful in that he humors me with my love of visiting gardens, and I enjoy

pretending I have some small amount of photography skills. 

This is a very interesting plant.  It's called Spiny Bear 's Breeches.

I think I really liked the name.  I'll have to see if there is a story behind the name.

I loved that fact that there were a bunch of  Hawk months at the gardens.

I just kept taking photos hoping to get a good one.

I think I did pretty good.  What do you think?

I loved this spot with the pink flowers on a hill looking out

to some mountains in the distance.  I'm glad I have found this new

garden to visit.

I'm always amazed at the different potted plant arrangements.

I have to say that I am not the greatest gardener.  I'm 

a much better garden walker.

I love the color of this lily.  I have big collection of lily flower photos now.

A bee hard at work.

After our walk we went to the Brio Tuscan Grille.

If you are in Salt Lake City instead of going to the 

Cheesecake Factory restaurant which always has 

a huge line and wait.  Go to this little restaurant that 

is right across the street.  The food is delicious,

The atmosphere is great, we loved the music that was 

playing.

Our order came quickly and there was no two hour wait to be seated which has happened

many times at the Cheesecake Factory, and no huge daunting menu.

I have to say that we are so glad we found this restaurant..  I 

really love the Pasta Alla Vodka. 

We then had a lovely walk around temple square. 

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Salt Lake City?

G.G.

Dynamite The Rescued Shelter Cat. Cat Myth : Cats can only be happy if you let them outside.

We have had Dyna now for 2 months.  I feel like

she has been with us for longer than that but nope just two months.

This week she has to go to the vets to get her teeth cleaned. 

I'm a bit nervous about that because the last time we took our

previous cat for a teeth cleaning that is when we learned she

had breast cancer.  I will be glad when she is done with this.

Once her teeth are taken care of we have to get her to like the 

taste of kitty tooth paste.  That may be a challenge.

We have been spending time reading up on cat health and cats in general.

One myth that Dyna and I have looked into this week is the myth that cats can 

not be happy unless they are allowed to roam around outside. 

There is this belief that cats need to be out hunting the birds and mice or they will 

not be happy.

Dyna has asked a few times to go outside.  But she has been told that she

is now an indoor cat.   The fact is that cats can lead a happy, fully satisfying life and most 

likely a longer and healthier one by staying indoors.

The key to this happier life is making sure you spend

time playing with your cat.  We spend time playing and watching "Cat TV"

Making sure you have a nice cat tree with a view of the outside world.

I have a bunch of different toys for Dyna.

She likes to play on the couch with them, she bounces all over the 

couch its pretty funny to watch her. 

Here is her cat tree with a view to the birds.

The birds benefit from this as I am feeding them

so that they entertain her.  She is very serious about hunting them.

Sometimes she jumps up on top of the refrigerator.  To look 

over all that is hers.

We also planted some grass for her.  She did not love it like our other cat.

I will try growing cat nip next.

Here is a list of the hazards that your cat avoids by staying inside.

- being hit by a car.

-being poisoned by pesticides, and herbicides.

-getting hurt in a fight with another cat or animal.

- aggression from dogs and humans ( not all people love cats.)

-becoming lost ( which equals possibly ending up in a shelter).

-being trapped in someones garage or basement.

- being exposed to parasites and diseases.

If you have to let your cat out at least get the cat micro chipped, this way if it becomes

lost the shelter can contact you if they find your cat.

It breaks my heart when I see a cat dead in the road, or friends looking

for a lost pet.  So please think about keeping your cat safe and inside.

G.G and Dyna.

Benefits of keeping your cat inside

Keeping your indoor cat happy

indoor cats vs. outdoor cats

P.S. Dyna says please donate to a local shelter near you.

If you cant donate you could play freekibble everyday to donate,

you answer trivia questions and right or wrong the kibble is donated.

Garden Walk week 17. Flowers and learning about plants that changed the world.

17 weeks of walking in the garden.  Can summer please slow down.

There were lots of Black-eyed Susan's in bloom.

I was amazed by all the different shades of yellow and brown 

that they come in.

These lilies with purple edges were beautiful.

I love seeing the Humming bird.

I love this photo with the ladybug. 

I love just walking the gardens and relaxing and 

seeing the beauty of Gods creation.

I wish that life could just slow down that 

I had more time to spend out in nature than working and running around.

I think these are called "Mexican Sunflowers".

The gardens are just filled with little creatures.

There were tons of bees buzzing around.

One fun thing this year is the new learning experience in the 

garden.  They have signs by different plants and 

tell you how they changed the world in some way or another.

This is a Clematis that actually bends down instead of opening

wide.

Cone flowers in different colors.

A Tiny blue dragonfly.

I like Foxglove plants.

These two photos are similar but I just love this type  

of photo I have a collection of different flowers

that are lit up by the sun.

I just think these are cool little plants.

I think these are called "Lucifer Plants."  They are cool looking.

I view of the main lawn at the gardens. 

Some days I can meander for  hours and other days I have to 

take a quick walk and then go do things for my family.

Today was one of those days of having to be other places.

I only have a few weeks left and then the children will be off to college.

Hope you enjoyed the photos.

G.G.