March | 2013 | Gardens For Goldens

The gardener as instrument

March 30, 2013 by Ogee

“All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.” ~ Helen Hayes My friend Tanner is still dreaming…while I am working. But what a wonderful feeling to weed and mow and trim as the Memorial Garden bursts forth around me. Two different visitors confessed today that they never believed this garden would be realized. I […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Dogs, Gardens, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature, Photography, Spring, Spring flowers

This has to stop

March 28, 2013 by Ogee

I am angry. Let me preface this with the understanding that this is a personal blog. When I speak here, I speak as an individual, not as a representative of the organization I volunteer with and love. With that out of the way… There is a tremendous sense of fulfillment that comes with rescue. Blessings surround us daily. I heard a saying recently – “hard is hard”. There are certainly many hard things in rescue. Some of these are just […]

Categories: Rescue • Tags: Buying Puppies, dog rescue, Dogs, Puppy Mills

Wordless Wednesday: Anastasia

March 26, 2013 by Ogee

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Photography

We go to school

March 25, 2013 by Ogee

At Homeward Bound we rescue Golden Retrievers, golden mixes and the occasional gold dog masquerading as one or the other. But we serve dogs of all shapes, sizes and spots through our Golden Rule Training program which is available to adopters, fosters and the public. The garden has always been a welcome place to visit on the way to training classes. Thor and Locke – and Bear and Cooper regularly make their way through the garden before class. It puts […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: dog rescue, Dog socialization, Dog Training, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Golden Rule Training, Photography

A flower for every smile

March 24, 2013 by Ogee

For the first time since I began volunteering at Homeward Bound, the kennels are only half full (a temporary situation, I’m sure.) Despite the reduced workload, the volunteers were out in abundance. I overheard one of them explaining to someone about what draws her here: the joy she feels when she pulls through the gates; the serenity of the country surroundings; the garden; the people – like Michele and Chip who visited with their failed foster, Murphy, to pick out […]

Categories: Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Dog foster, dog rescue, Dogs, gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature, Photography

The Garden as teacher

March 19, 2013 by Ogee

After a year of working in the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, I have – to my amazement – become a more patient gardener. I walk right past the impulse buy tables in the garden store. Tempting as they are, I now favor these young divides – trusting that they will grow into stronger, healthier plants that will shoot forth year after year. This season, I will even experiment with seeds – something I never had the patience for before. The […]

Categories: Gardening • Tags: gardening, gertrude jekyll, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Killdeer, Nature, Photography, Tulips

A return visit

March 16, 2013 by Ogee

The fertile soils (former wetlands) and Mediterranean climate of the Sacramento Valley provide an ideal environment for growing. The winters are temperate, the summers warm – cooled by Delta breezes. Old trees in established neighborhoods provide frost protection and shade from the blazing late July and August sun. Buildings create closed spaces blocking cold winds that can otherwise quickly freeze fragile plants. As a result, microclimates can be a full zone apart from an area just a few minutes away. […]

Categories: Gardening • Tags: Gardens, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, Nature, Photography, Sacramento City Cemetery, Sacramento microclimate, Spring flowers

Secrets of the heart

March 13, 2013 by Ogee

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched…but are felt in the heart.” ~ Helen Keller There is one feeling that I will never get used to – is the joy of watching new connections made and new two+four-legged families formed. Last weekend Jeff and Erwin came through the garden with Duke – 90 pounds of golden love. Previous adopters, they had lost their beloved pup and were finally ready to share their hearts […]

Categories: Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Dog Adoption, dog rescue, Dogs, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue