Q: “What are you planting today?”
A: “Stone.”
Big weekend of work in the Memorial Garden; I am just recovering.
Jody and I began the stone walkway project on Saturday. I finished on Sunday, while she oversaw the completed clearing of the adjacent pen. Moving a half ton of stone certainly makes you sleep well at night. But the results are worth the effort, I think.
“It is better to wear out than to rust out.”
– Bishop Richard Cumberland
The curve creates obvious pockets for drifts of plants that echo the natives in Ina’s garden, coupled with some perennials to bridge the front and back of the garden. Next stop: nursery!
The garden is about to burst into spring. We’ve discovered that our flowering season is longer here; but winter leaves a little later. Things that have sprung in my home garden, are still hinting at spring in the Memorial Garden. The breeze that cools over the rice fields is welcome relief in summer, but keeps a chill on a while longer in spring.
We were joined once again today by a group of students from the University of San Francisco. They are studying Fundamentals of Organizational Management with a focus on nonprofits, and selected Homeward Bound to get some hands-on experience and information. They were attracted to us as an all-volunteer organization; and for our mission of rescue and sanctuary.
They had an opportunity to spend time with our President, and some of our newest recruits. Meet Lily…
Daisy…
And Lucy.
After spending time with the dogs, trainers and team leaders, Jody let them experience the manual labor side of rescue – clearing the adjacent pen. Not bad for city kids! It looks immaculate.
We return them to the metropolis a little tired, dirty, and wiser about the work of a nonprofit.
“Work is love made visible.”
– Khalil Gibran
Gardens For Goldens 
Love, love, love your new walkway. It’s beautiful. We plowed and shoveled another foot of snow today in anticipation of another storm coming through on Wednesday. We tapped our first Maple tree, and the sap is running so we will content ourselves with the sugaring process while we await spring. Love your photos.
Ahhh…I remember maple syrup drizzled on snow, and the smell of Maypo cereal cooling in snow. Memories are enough. You can keep it all!! 🙂
The walkway is just lovely. All your work is so visibly apparent in the gardens and on the faces of your sweet companions!
Thank you. Now, if only I could move!!
OH JOY!! I am a sucker for a newly laid path or row…none of those pesky weeds yet.
A beautiful walkway Audrey.
I’m also a sucker for those beautiful pups 😉
*anna
What a lovely path. I imagine it full of beautiful Golden Retrievers and their new families walking toward home.
That is a lovely thought!!
Beautiful stonework – always feels good in the sun this time of year too! And it sounds like a great experience for your visiting students 🙂
Thank you, Lynn. It was a gorgeous day to be in the garden…even for city kids without a single Starbucks in sight!
Daisy has such gorgeous curlicues in her coat. And that’s a great line to title this post.
🙂 It’s hard to call it work…we all love it so much. And isn’t Daisy amazing?
The stone path looks great, I can imagine what a beautiful sight the garden will be when the flowers are in full bloom. The golden girls are gorgeous, I bet they enjoyed having the students around, lots more cuddles 🙂
Thank you 🙂 I can’t wait until everything is in bloom. Spring keeps playing games on us here! And yes…the pups are always happy to meet new friends!
Love the walk way! We also have a Lucy!
Lucky Lucy!
Excellent work- everything looks great!
Thank you!