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You are here: Home / Diary / Nip Garden Report

Nip Garden Report

July 21, 2015 By: Summer Samba48 Comments

Don't I look like a gracious hostess?

Here I am on the back patio, and it’s a really humid day! That almost never happens here in southern California. In fact, it has been pretty dry for a long time. But we had rain over the weekend and something called “monsoonal moisture.” I am here to see what effect it has had on my catnip garden.

You can almost smell them through the computer screen, right?

Wow, look at this! So lush and green, and this year the bugs haven’t chewed on the leaves. At least not yet.

Isn't this kind of like that poppy scene from the Wizard of Oz?

Of course, I have to go through the garden myself and get my paws dirty! And maybe have a few whiffs while I’m at it.

A nip garden needs more than just admiration

But there is still more work to be done if I want my catnip to really thrive. I am having my human pinch off some of the stems so the plants don’t get too leggy, and so that they fill out.

Mmmmmm!

And maybe snag a few buds too.

* * *
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Comments

  1. Kjelle Bus aka Charlie Rascal says

    July 25, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Starting to look really good in your nip garden , Summer !
    That poor plant my mom-person planted at her dad´s place are soon all gone 🙁
    Gustav is a to BIG nip head 🙂

    XOXO

    Reply
  2. Pipo/Minko/MrJackFreckles says

    July 23, 2015 at 12:28 am

    We will have to remind meowmy to pinch off our nip plants…and then give the clippings to us, MOL!

    Reply
  3. Pawesome Cats says

    July 22, 2015 at 4:45 pm

    That’s an awesome nip garden – we’re envious!

    Reply
  4. TyBee and Bella says

    July 22, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    Mmmmmmm the nip looks gooooood. Our human has a big pot on the balcony. Saturday, she dried some in the microwave. Smelled soooo good in the house for a long long time

    Reply
  5. Kitties Blue says

    July 22, 2015 at 8:48 am

    Your nip plant is glorious! Our nip plant sucks this year. It is doing very poorly. At least our housekeeper Chris brings us fresh nip when she comes to clean. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

    Reply
  6. LadyBird says

    July 22, 2015 at 1:12 am

    Wow! all that catnip! and fresh, too! Love your garden, Summer. Great job!

    Reply
  7. Clooney says

    July 21, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Summer we think you know a lot about gardening…what great shape your catnip plants are in…cool!

    Reply
  8. Raven says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:02 pm

    Looks like your nip garden is doing well. Pinching back some flower stalks should help promote new leaf growth and your plants will last a really long time.

    Reply
  9. Fraidy Cats! says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:53 pm

    yoW! you have a nice nip crop, Summer! our mom is hopeless at growing any for us 🙁

    pip, smidgen, minnie, hollie

    Reply
  10. Cathy Keisha says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Pawsome crop. Have her snap off the flowers too so it doesn’t go to seed. I don’t even have one indoors anymore.

    Reply
  11. Mark's Mews says

    July 21, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    Yer Nip looks great. And those pinched-off tips are REALLY good nomming!

    Reply
  12. Ellen Pilch says

    July 21, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    Summer, you have quite the green thumb, I mean paw 🙂

    Reply
  13. Lone Star Cats says

    July 21, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Da nip are lookin good!

    Reply
  14. Georgia and Julie says

    July 21, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    Hey! We just read on Millie’s blog that today is your mom purrson’s birthday too!
    We wish her a really happy b’day and purr she gets all kinds of spoiled 🙂
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ
    and mom Nancy

    Reply
  15. Flynn says

    July 21, 2015 at 1:56 pm

    Your nip garden is looking good Summer. Did you have a munch on it?

    Reply
  16. The Swiss Cats says

    July 21, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    Your nip garden is gorgeous, Summer ! Your mom did a good job ! Purrs

    Reply
  17. Lola and Lexy says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:45 am

    What a great crop! It must be fab to have your own fresh catnip anytime you want it. It is SO hot and humid here that Mommy is dying. And it seems the timer that she sets for the AC is not working, either.

    Reply
  18. LP says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:42 am

    It looks like a bumper crop for sure Summer! Now you will have some good nip to pass those winter days away 🙂

    the critters in the cottage xo

    P.S.Our Aunty lives in San Diego and she says they have been getting humidity there too which is normally unheard of!

    Reply
  19. Kitty Cat Chronicles says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:08 am

    Mmmm a catnip garden. Something that we will demand to have planted when we move into our new house soon!!! Enjoy, Summer!

    Reply
  20. Simba says

    July 21, 2015 at 11:06 am

    Your catnip is looking great, Summer. And you and your human are doing just the right things with it. I have found the STEMS of catnip to be especially potent smelling.

    And Happy Birthday to your Mom!

    Reply
  21. Emma and Buster says

    July 21, 2015 at 10:28 am

    It has been muggy here in NorCal too. Our nip garden is a pathetic one -pot extravaganza, can you believe that? Our humans refuse to plant anything new while the drought is going on.

    Reply
  22. Brian Frum says

    July 21, 2015 at 9:54 am

    Your Nip Garden is sure impressive pretty Summer!

    Reply
  23. Grace says

    July 21, 2015 at 9:27 am

    Love that last photo – MOL

    Reply
  24. Nerissa's Life says

    July 21, 2015 at 9:15 am

    Wow, your nip plants are looking GREAT!!! Wish mine looked like that. What’s your secret, Summer? You giving them extra special food or something? Do tell… Please?

    Purrs,
    Seville

    PS. I heard about the rain you had over the weekend. Lots of plumie growers were super happy about that. Good for the plumies and, apparently, GREAT for your nip! purrs

    Reply
  25. Annabelle says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:32 am

    I think you are enjoying that nip!!
    Oh such good whiffs!

    Reply
  26. Penelope says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:31 am

    Wow! Yous got a great nip patch going on there!!! Will yous share with Binga and Bodie?
    Kisses
    Nellie

    Reply
  27. Marg says

    July 21, 2015 at 8:28 am

    Just look at that Summer, you work in the garden too. That nip looks great. We have a nip garden too, but the Mom doesn’t take very good care of it. Sometimes the cats that live outside lie in it.

    Reply
  28. Caren Gittleman says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:55 am

    your human did an AMAZING job with her nip this year!

    Reply
  29. GLOGIRLY CATS says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:43 am

    What a beautiful nip garden you’ve got, Summer!
    If you like that ‘monsoonal moisture,’ you’d LOVE it here in Minnesota!
    ; ) …not that it helps Glogirly’s nip-growing abilities. ha!

    Reply
  30. BeadedTail says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:21 am

    Wow! We are totally impressed with your nip garden this year! It looks pawesome! Happy Birthday to your human today!

    Reply
  31. prancer pie says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Oh Summer, the green of that nip really accentuates your beautiful green eyes!

    Reply
  32. FuzzMother says

    July 21, 2015 at 7:20 am

    Summer, that last picture is wonderful! I could smell the nip, too!

    Reply
  33. meowmeowmans says

    July 21, 2015 at 6:37 am

    OOOH, your nip crop is looking awesome, Summer! It sure sounds like you and your human (with your supervision and guidance, of course) are on top of things.

    Reply
  34. Melissa & Angel Truffles says

    July 21, 2015 at 6:05 am

    That is a super duper nip garden!

    Reply
  35. Cherry City Kitties says

    July 21, 2015 at 5:56 am

    Oh my yes, your garden is looking quite lovely! And the buds… oh yes, sweet nip flowers we love you most of all! Enjoy!

    Reply
  36. dma says

    July 21, 2015 at 5:52 am

    monsoonal moisture?

    Reply
  37. chuck huss says

    July 21, 2015 at 5:32 am

    That is a lot of nip you have there. Is that legal in California?

    Reply
  38. Madi and Mom says

    July 21, 2015 at 5:30 am

    Summer you have your own catnip garden!!?? that is fantastic. I’m glad you all got some rain but you surely don’t need it falling all at once. Hopefully it will slow down a tad so it has time to soak in the ground
    We live in a very humid climate it is is no fun. Today’s temp is 94 but with the heat index/humidity it will feel like 105
    Hugs madi your bfff

    Reply
  39. Mr. Chivers, Greyson, and Tabitha says

    July 21, 2015 at 4:47 am

    Wow, that’s one beautiful thriving garden. Mom has never been able to grow catnip. She got these catnip seeds cards from Petco last year that produced nothing but dirt. We need to buy her some real seeds. Any tips for us? Purrs, Greyson, Mr. Chivers, Tabitha and Chloe

    Reply
    • SUmmer says

      July 21, 2015 at 9:19 am

      My human bought an actual plant and planted it. It grew from there. Died off a couple of times too, but once it’s established, it comes back. At least in our climate.

      Reply
  40. Sasha says

    July 21, 2015 at 4:22 am

    That is a nice garden of Catnip, Summer. Ours grows wild, here and there and Lynettea has to prune it back. It doesn’t have its own garden and springs up wild. I don’t bother about catnip, but I do like cat thyme. Have you tried that? It has a lovely scent for cats.

    Reply
  41. The Island Cats says

    July 21, 2015 at 3:55 am

    Your nip is looking great, Summer. A bumper crop!

    Reply
  42. Sometimes Cats Herd You says

    July 21, 2015 at 3:10 am

    You’ve got a nice little patch of nip going on there. The rain seems to have made your nip plants pretty happy. And the nip plants keep you happy. Is that what they call the circle of life?

    Reply
  43. Toby & Leia says

    July 21, 2015 at 3:02 am

    That looks like a wonderful nip garden. Can we have some?

    Reply
  44. Gattina says

    July 21, 2015 at 2:26 am

    Apparently you have the same weather as we do ! At least your plants grow so nicely !

    Reply
  45. HaHnnah and Lucy says

    July 21, 2015 at 1:37 am

    The nip looks like it’s growing well Summer and think you ought to have a quick sniff of it today to make sure it’s the “good” stuff!!
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

    Reply
  46. The Kitties of Purring Pines says

    July 21, 2015 at 1:20 am

    Wow! That’s a great crop! We’ve already destroyed our plant. MOL!

    Reply
  47. Georgia and Julie says

    July 21, 2015 at 1:02 am

    Oh boy! Looks like you will have a nice crop of nip!
    That will be SO nice this Winter!
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ

    Reply

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