wait, the leaves have to be bruised to release the smell?
Maybe thats what I was doing wrong; all I did was broke a few stems off and waved it in front of her.
I'm going to try again.
I need to go back thru this thread and find out about when and how to harvest it. Mine are growing like crazy now.
Catnip...
I just cut some stems and hang upside down to dry. When dry, I take all the leaves off, crumple them up and put in airtight container for later use.
For fresh I just pick a stem and show it to Max and he goes crazy. He smells it then bites it all up.
nannie, some don't care for it. Try bruising the leaves, and try drying some. It depends on the cat.
Nannie-You can pick it all growing season.Just pinch off the lasr 3 or 4 inches of each branch & it will branch out even more until fall.Also you keep it from going to seed that way.
My cats ignore the stuff.I usually give it all away to other cat owners.
Ummmm, Herbalbetty, the song you mentioned was sung by my favorite German;-Johnny K of Steppenwolf fame. (That dates me, I suppose) My kids're forever telling me that I don't listen to classic rock....I listen to "antique" rock! My cats, on the other hand don't care what they have to listen to, long as they get their happy herb:)
Cyra, Steppenwolf. Thank you! I can hear the words in my head, but couldn't remember who it was. Long live antique rock.
LMAO!!! I love all of your sense of humor!!! Glad I wasn't drinking coffee as I would've spewed it all over... :)
Jan
Just make sure you spew toward the garden...