
A delightful, whimsical look at Midwest Gardening told through the stories, musings, and journals of the cats who live there.

Welcome to Gardens at Effingham
Meet “Most Beloved”

What greater gift than the love of a cat.
Charles Dickens

Recent Posts
Meet “Most Beloved” Cat: Her Backstory Writes the Tales
How Did I Come To Be Most Beloved? The Garden Shed Once upon a snowy winter’s evening, a little boy found me shivering and terribly hungry. I hid from the bitter cold under a garden shed, but the little boy cried out to Mommy, “Mew, Mew-Mew, Mew” over and over until she peeked down to…
Continue reading“Okay,Who Gave the Cat a Pen?”
Ah ha! Captured! That stray pen–twirling, whirling, edging ever closer its way towards me. And Paper? Well, that’s a given. I’m already sitting on top of a stack of papers. ’Tis my place (always) to sit atop her papers, especially when she’s writing, especially the papers she’s trying to use. And besides, what use does she…
Continue readingHappy Spring and Artful Blooms! A Poem by the Cat
Celebration in Spring Blooms -by Most Beloved A Poem by the Cat Celebration in Spring Blooms by Most Beloved The serviceberries opened their white blossoms this week. A gentle breeze scatters their petals and airborne, they sift and drift down, joy in their flight, celebration in their journey. Most Affectionately Yours, Most Beloved
Continue readingCat Naps and Winter Dreams: Is it Spring Yet?
Winter Daydreams Eagerly await mail for seed and flower garden catalogs to arriveBring in mail and start an ongoing (and ever-towering) stack of winter dreams Pile up all garden books, magazines, journals, and catalogsGather a soft, snuggly blanket (preferably one that looks good against all my white fur) Get excited and open several catalogs and…
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