Gardens For Goldens

Mama Always Said

February 28, 2021 by Ogee

Mama always said you cannot pair orange and pink. She was wrong. The apricot and pink tulips in the Memorial Garden are a stunning combination. The birds know… spring has arrived. Our rose arbor is beautifully rebuilt, and the fruit trees are beginning to blossom. What I wish Mama had told me was that the alpacas and goats – sent to new homes this winter after Jody’s passing – were the safety plan for the hibernating tortoises. These beautiful, fifty-year-old […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature Photography • Tags: Spring Garden, Tortoise, Tulips

Gardens: Love Letters to the Future

February 14, 2021 by Ogee

Gardeners don’t fear critters, bugs, disease, or even frosts. The one thing a gardener truly fears is the fate of our gardens after we are gone. The act of clearing, planning, planting, and nurturing a garden is belief in tomorrow – a love letter to the future. A gardener lives in anticipation of the season ahead and what surprises will spring forward. When you dig and turn that first shovel of dirt, a pact is made – between earth and […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Jody's Garden

Catching Up

February 7, 2021 by Ogee

Dear Across the States Gardeners, I am so sorry for your cold and snow. Not to rub it in, but I spent the weekend cutting back and clearing out for spring. The danger of frost is now past and the buds on the roses and trees and emerging Daffodils and Tulips signal that a new season is not far away. The process revealed a plethora of ladybugs – and blasted Bermuda grass run amuck. First a final freeze, and then […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Puppies, Rescue • Tags: Dog foster, Louie, Rubble, Skye

Winter Skye

January 24, 2021 by Ogee

Two weeks ago, the asters and Mexican marigolds were still in bloom. Mother Nature can so easily lull Northern California gardeners into false hope of early spring. The narcissus have flowered, the tulips, hyacinths and iris are rapidly making their way. But grey skies and a cold north wind blew in today, with the promise of a hard freeze Monday night. I was there early for puppy duty. German Shepherd, Annie and her newborns are just visiting. Found stray and […]

Categories: Dog Fostering, Dog Rescue, Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Dog foster, Puppies, Winter Garden

A Place You Called Home

January 10, 2021 by Ogee

We all know the story. When you drove out to the property for the first time, you said: “I am home.” Driving out to the rescue today, I saw again why you loved this piece of open country so. The landscape rose from the fog and frost-bitten ground. The flooded rice fields – glass-like and still – were filled with geese, ducks and coots. The sun broke through and cleared a path through the mist. Had I known the day […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Loss • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Jody Jones

Seasons Pass

November 1, 2020 by Ogee

Fall blew in on a mighty, cold, north wind. It toppled our beloved Willow tree, but left a trail of purple blooming asters in its wake. Just a couple weeks ago, we were still brushing the century mark. Now it is sweater weather. The two-day wind storm stoked anxieties about more wildfires. We were thankfully spared here. I want to hide in the garden away from the news and the sense of dread I feel about the election ahead and […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Humanity, Thought • Tags: 2020, election 2020

To Dream A Garden

October 18, 2020 by Ogee

“I knew it would be bigger…but…” We had an honored guest in the garden this weekend. Laure is a master gardener and the original architect of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden going back more than ten years. Her design drawings are still housed in our shed, although the garden has morphed quite a bit over time. The plan called for themed beds. Some, like the White Garden and Rose Garden bed are still as intended. We found that others like […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature Photography • Tags: Asters, Fall Garden, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, To Dream A Garden

The Garden Calls For You

October 11, 2020 by Ogee

I arrived early that Sunday morning. Learning of her fall, I went to check on her. As she was loaded to the ambulance, I told her it would be okay. I knew in my heart it wouldn’t be – but who am I to argue with the power of prayer? We grieve the loss of our founder, leader, mentor, and friend. Her impact was immeasurable. The outpouring of love and sorrow at the news, indescribable. I have found it difficult […]

Categories: Friendship, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Loss, Rescue • Tags: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Jody Jones

Hurry Home

August 23, 2020 by Ogee

So much power in such a tiny thing – use it to heal and get home soon. You are loved and needed more than you’ll ever know. We’ll watch over “the garden” until your return.

Categories: Friendship • Tags: Friendship, Healing

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