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Tonight I went through some pics from my archives, and found a bunch of shots that I'd taken over two years ago while I was visiting Tigger at Sugar Mill Gardens.

For those who don't know the story of my cat, Tigger, he had been owned by an elderly lady who passed away. I was told that her ashes had been scattered in the gardens. (She had lived just down the street.) Tigger's name back then was Jack. I found this out when I met a girl in the gardens who claimed to have been the best friend of the lady's grand daughter, and she filled me in on some interesting facts. "Jack" was passed down to the girl, who was very young at that time. For some reason, he kept getting out and running down to Sugar Mill Gardens to hang out. It seems a little like a Greyfriar's Bobby kind of thing, (you know, where the dog's owner died and he laid on his owner's grave every day until HE died, too!) The family would come and get Jack, but he apparently liked hunting squirrels in the gardens, and being a very social cat, liked all the attention from visitors, and quickly became the unofficial greeter of the place!

Eventually, the family had to move to St. Augustine, and for whatever reason, they decided to leave Jack to his gardens, and asked the garden staff if they'd look after him. At some point, Jack was renamed Tigger, and several of the volunteers fed him, and one would do things like periodically worm him, or pull ticks off him.

After I came on Flickr, I met Tiger Lair, another member, who has a group called Tigger, the Gatekeeper's Garden Clubhouse. That's where I found out about Tig. I had heard so much about him that I planned to visit him, but like most people, never had the time. Well, Tiger Lair (Susan) would check on him every month or so, and bring him snacks and catnip. On January 1, 2008, she had gone out of town with her hubby, and the temps were going to plummet into the 20's, which is unusual for Florida. I wondered if Tigger had ever been exposed to such weather, or if he had someplace warm to go in. So, I made my first visit to the Gardens to bring him a blanket, just in case.

When I got to the gardens, it was late afternoon, and it was already about 40 degrees. I found Tigger on top of the old ruins, shivering. The plants had been covered, but there was no bed or house, and nothing warm for the cat to cuddle up with. So, I tossed the blanket up onto the ruins next to him, while he looked at me like I was nuts! I walked away to take some photos, and when I returned, there was Tigger, cuddled up on the blanket! I brought treats and lured him over with them so I could pet him. Well, the rest is history. After that, I went back again and again, each time bringing more stuff...a "house" made out of a storage container with a hole cut in the side that I put blankets in for him to get out of the rain or wind. I ended up going there most every day and bringing him food and giving him fresh water. In the process, I discovered just how hard life had been for Tigger, who was about 8-10 years old.

I would put fresh water in his bowl and give him fresh food, then walk around the gardens taking photos while he escorted me! When I went back over by his bowls, I'd often find his food half gone and his water bowl filthy with mud! It took me a while to discover the culprit who was making a mess of things and stealing his food. It was raccoons! Tigger could gallop like a race horse, and I have no doubt that it was due to running from angry mother raccoons, protecting their young, and eating his food! Tigger had hind leg problems, and I began to notice he would shake sometimes, and have difficulty making it over the fence, or climbing up on anything. His legs are longer than any cat I've ever seen, but not particularly strong. I believe he couldn't climb to get away from danger; he just had to run for it!

Over time, I grew to love him like one of my own cats, and right before a tropical storm hit the following summer, I took Tigger home to keep him safe. He adapted so well that I ended up keeping him! A couple of months later, my mother took ill and passed away. I lost my job of 16 years, and had no money for food for myself, let alone 3 cats! Susan began to bring me food and supplies, not just for Tigger, but for ALL my cats! She has treated them as if they were her own for over a year and a half! Even now, I only have been able to find a part time job which pays much less than what I used to earn, and she has continued to help me so my three boys can stay healthy. I don't know what I'd do without her!

It's been a long time since I went to the gardens. We had my mother's memorial service there, and that was the last time I went. I have taken literally thousands of photos of the 12 acre site, which was once part of the Dunlawton Plantation. Many of the photos I've never had time to process. So, like everything else, they will be done eventually, as I make room for new things!

This is one of th

Margie Earns Masters Degree from San Jose State University - After four long years of study, I was pleased to have gotten all A