My preference for a packed garden has led to some thuggery.
I spent the day cutting back prized but overgrown California fuschias, cerinthe major (honeywort), and even California poppies to allow the verbascum, sea holly, and blazing star see the light of day.
It’s a happy garden that grows so vigorously that it needs to be edited in May!
Sometimes, gardeners get tunnel vision; all we see are the weeds and work.
The same with rescue; the sad stories and hard days can overwhelm.
To be sure, the usual culprits are there in the garden: Bermuda grass and wild morning glory in particular.
But I say ‘look up.’
In rescue, you learn that you cannot dwell on the obstacles and setbacks. You have to look forward to the good that can be done. While our hearts still ache for the loss of our little Rose to Parvo, we have been celebrating the recovery of Lilac. She stayed with us for a bit to ensure that she would go home strong and healthy –
and so she could make up some lost socialization time during her period of isolation.
Post-darkness, she is a gift of sunlight and happiness.
Look up dear gardener – at the magnificent roses, the tall Verbena that towers, and the Daylilies in bloom.
Look up to the brilliant Yarrow, Matijila poppies, and Jupiter’s Beard.
Look forward to the Delta sunflowers, the Dahilias, Agastache, Penstemon, Bee Balm, Rudbeckia, Zinnias, and Salvias. They will be here before you know it.
The weeds, like troubles, will always be there. But it is the good and beauty that deserves our focus.
Happy life, sweet girl.
Gardens For Goldens 
So true. Beautiful!
Oh Audrey, you are such a wise gardener and dog lover! Thank you always for sharing your wisdom🌸🐾💕
She is precious. What a great family portrait.
Like you guys,I love a garden that has a “controlled randomness” about it. I have little time for “manicured gardens, as nature never was (or ever will be) perfectly “manicured”! I also like this definition of a weed …. “being a flower that is simply growing you didn’t want it to.” You could apply both animal and human analogies to that. 🙂
The garden is beautiful!!
Thank you so much for your continuing shared visions of Homeward Bound, I look forward to your posts to refresh my images of the Ranch while I’m sheltered in place. I love being able to see spring exploding in the garden and updates of our temporary residents passing through to their forever homes. Your posts bring us at home “the gift of sunshine and happiness.” Thank you.
We miss you!
What a beautiful garden. And love the pictures of the hummingbird and the bee. Great capture. Our garden attracts these gentle visitors also. And yes, best of life to Lilac, what a sweet soul. Thanks for these lovely posts! Hugs from Poe and family.
Thanks Audrey – these images warm my heart! Beautiful gardens all around!
No one could read your posts without a smile. 🙂 If you ever need to look for an additional source of income, here’s my two cents. Contact your local MG group or area garden club and get some volunteers to participate in ‘hands in dirt’ to pot up excess plants and have an annual plant sale. You already have a long list of happy families that could be very interested in buying plants from your garden with proceeds going to support your furry friends. 🙂
Beautiful post and beautiful garden! I think the “look up” idea can be applied to so many things. We end up being so critical of ourselves and our work. Being able to step back and look at what we’ve accomplished is a great way to stay positive. 🙂
So good to hear from you! I was just reflecting back on the two beautiful portraits you did of our pups.
very beautiful