“I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden.” ~ Ruth Stout
Saturday was a picture perfect early spring day, which brought out all kinds of visitors to the garden: dogs,
lizards,
snails (by the thousands),
and Rocky! Our resident snake is back and apparently well fed.
And if the geese hadn’t found such a buffet in the wet field next door, they would probably have been in the garden as well.
We could have used the extra helpers. Twenty beautiful antique roses were gifted to us (thank you, Marguerite!); lifted from their home in Napa and delivered in a packed SUV by Maria. Since they were quite literally “bare root,” they needed to be planted right away. We sorted them by size and color, dialing up Anna’s mom, Lynn – a rosarian, for reference.
Somehow, Maria, Anna and I got all twenty planted in one afternoon. Somehow, we found space for them! In between there were “going home” pictures to grab. From across the garden I hear the holler: “photo needed!” It is an interruption that I am always happy to accommodate. Happily, there were quite a few:
Frankie,
Brandi,
Three of our hunting dogs, including Drake who found himself a family of boys,
and Bailey and Bandit, who found themselves a home together with a couple of girls.
But the best picture of all was a simple snapshot taken a few days earlier, capturing the smiling faces of Riley and his new mom.
“Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems.” ~Rainer Maria Rilke
Gardens For Goldens 
Oh Spring! How some of us must dream of such a time to come. Our “daffs” are still sleeping peacefully beneath many blankets of snow.
Anticipation makes the heart grow fonder. Spring will come. 🙂
What beautiful, beautiful pictures. Love the flowers, but the dogs are just gorgeous. Happy Day for sure.
spring we want spring
Soon!!
Love all the photos, but always love the pics of the dogs who are going home. Happy dance!
It gets no better than this – loved the photographs and isn’t it funny all the beautiful dogs are smiling, can’t imagine why!
I think it has to do with these words: “Want to go for a ride?!” 🙂
Oh so funny!
What a great spring day with friends and flowers!!!!
What a fabulous spring day you had–a variety of garden visitors, gorgeous flowers, planting for the future, and the happy faces of dogs and humans beginning their bright new lives together. Perfection!
Oh my goodness, this post gave me chills. Such beautiful green grass, beautiful flowers, Mother Nature’s creatures, and happy endings everywhere you look. WOW – now that’s something to post about.
Uh oh…I think you have chills enough! Happy to bring you a little spring, however. 🙂
Riley really is smiling, what a look of pure adoration!