There is never a time when its NOT gardening season

Henry loves rummaging around in the herb garden above the little ornamental pond. Herbs are a lot sturdier than people realize and it will take more than an inquisitive nose to harm most of the bits in there.
Even so, come spring I"ll move most of the herbs out back to the less travelled and more ornamental space. As much as I love Henry, I won't want him watering the Lavender or the Lady's Mantle. Nor would it be a good idea to leave the Comfrey there to be trampled.
I'll leave the ever so sturdy Wormwood and Oregano, along with the Russian Olive and French Lilac trees anchoring the center.
I've been sharing space with pets for as long as I've been a gardener, and have long ago learned the importance of boundaries. I'm lucky enough here to have room for a generous play yard without cutting into the 4000 + square feet of gardens around here. Nor did I have to scale back on the parts of the yard that the wildlife enjoy so much.
Nor have I ever found need to get upset about any of the neighbours cats when they come calling. Any minimal damage they may do to the garden is more than offset by the natural pests they come stalking. In all honesty, I've lost more of my garden over the years to deer and raccoons than I have ever lost to the cats.
Tame or feral it makes no difference. Not to be mean .... but if a cat can get its paws on a bird, then that particular bird wasn't making a positive contribution to the gene pool.
There are a lot of little tricks that I've learned over the years to protect the more ornamental gardens:

• The crushed oyster shell ( available at most feed stores ) that the farmers use for their chickens makes a splendid deterrent as few felines care for the feel on their paws. Not only that but it makes a lovely looking mulch and does double duty for keeping away the slugs
• water the gardens in the evening ... given the choice between a dry area to play and a wet one, most cats will choose not to get their paws wet
• I walk my dogs around the perimeter of the gardens fairly regularly .... when they water the edge, that is also acting as a deterrent
• freshly tilled and planted gardens are protected by laying down chicken wire
• if a person had a smaller garden, there are excellent sensor operated water sprayers that really work well, and of course
• it never hurts to offer them a more attractive alternative .... till up a tiny spot in some out of the way part of the yard . For added enticement, start a patch of anything in the mint family nearby ( of which catnip is only one of their favourite treats .... lemon balm, mint, oregano all entice equally well )

If it seems like I'm wandering afield here, it is only that there really is no time in the year when it is NOT gardening season. It is never just tilling and planting and harvesting .... all the rest of the year is just dreamtime for a gardener.

Nor does one have to make a choice between having a great garden and pets/ wildlife/ feral cats or visiting neighbour's kitties.

What time is it? Its way past time to remember that there is no point in pursuing perfection at the expense of our own humanity.