Someone stole my iris!

Now that we have a cat and I have strayed near the litter box, I kind of believe they are mountain lions too! LOL

LOL! We have 6 cats and one is a totally inside cat. The others can go out and come into the basement. Yep, I do believe they are mountain lions by the smell of things. :)


But, to update you on my visit to my neighbor. I went over there yesterday, hellebore and clematis in hand. They weren't home and I'm thinking that they may have gone to the lake for the weekend. Boat and pickup gone was my first clue as to where they could have gone. I kept looking all day today too as we were working outside, but no activity there. I'm going to keep checking though and go over there with my gifts. They are retired folk, so may stay at the lake for a few more days, especially if the fishing is good.

Joan, when you finally see your neighbor, be sure and ask her if she's seen any deer around lately because you had this highly anticipated iris disappear and that "of course it had to be an animal" because the flower bed is in an out-of-the-way area that no one ever gets into, etc. You might be able to learn something from her reaction.

Joan, you brought back a sad but wonderful memory of mine that happened 15 yrs. ago. I had just put about 20 annuals in my flower beds and was tickled pink with my choices of flowers. 3 weeks later my husband and I went out one night returning home well after dark. Something didn't look right by the house. I got my flashlight to investigate and found 20 neat little holes in my beds. Someone had done some shopping in our yard! After the shock wore off, we had to laugh imagining someone out there digging away so neatly! The next day I shared the story with my co-workers and we roared with different storylines of the mystery. Two days later I went to work and was amazed to find 20 annuals on a table waiting for me!! I will never forget the best garden I will ever have.

vivilee, what a wonderful ending to a tragic experience. I'm happy that your co-workers thought of doing that for you. They are very special.

For an update on the missing iris...

My neighbors still aren't home and I'm thinking they must have taken a long vacation. Someone is coming to water the garden though, because I see them about every second evening. I gave up and planted the clematis and hellebore that I had for her, because they would have died otherwise, but I'll find something else for her when they get back.

vivilee, I once had a similar experience, and thought it was a person, but found out later there are birds which pull plants out of the ground just like that. Made me feel better!

JoanJ, well, you tried! Maybe you could just offer them some iris if you divide them later on?