Gardening | Gardens For Goldens

Late Summer’s Tiny Gems

August 13, 2017 by Ogee

After a blazing hot summer, the garden is in that in-between moment when the summer riot turns tiny and quiet until the fall steps forward in all its glory. You have to look closely in a sea of green for the garden’s little gems. Hummingbird-loving Cuphea ignea. Butterfly favorites Jupiter’s Beard, Lantana, and Butterfly Bush. The purples and pinks of Pentas, Penstemon, Chives, And Cosmos bespeckle the beds – their large drifts long gone. Dainty Veronica tries to stand tall, […]

Categories: Gardening, Nature, Nature Photography, Puppies • Tags: Cuphea ignea, Dahlia, Gardens Golden Retriever, Golden Retriever Puppy, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Jupiter's Beard, Late Summer Garden, Monarch Butterflies, Pentas, Puppy, Rudbeckia

To Rule A Garden…Or More

August 6, 2017 by Ogee

“Anybody who wants to rule the world should try to rule a garden first.” ~ Author Unknown I found this unattributed quote and it struck me as true. Nothing humbles like a garden – a tiny microcosm of the world where distinct forces work best in harmony, but are sometimes pushed into doing battle for survival and the chance to ensure future generations. I’m not really sure that anyone ever rules the garden; to assume so would tempt Mother Nature’s […]

Categories: Gardening, Humanity, Nature Photography, Thought • Tags: Anna's Hummingbird, Dahlia, Dragonfly, Gardener Traits, gardening, Monarch Butterfly, Praying Mantis, Swallowtail Butterfly, Tiny Frogs

Slowly, The Evening Comes

May 28, 2017 by Ogee

It is a rare treat to be in the Memorial Garden at sunset. After the feeders leave, a hush falls over the entire rescue as pups – exhausted from a day of play – bed down with full bellies for the night. “Slowly the evening came. The sun from the western horizon, like a magician, extended his golden wand o’er the landscape.” ~ Longfellow Instead of dogs barking, the air is full of the sounds of birds chirping, bees buzzing, […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: bees in flight, Golden Retrievers Gardens, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, hummingbird photography, Nature Photography, Penstemon, Sunset garden, verbena

Whoever Makes A Garden

March 26, 2017 by Ogee

To my wayward gardeners (one excused for her good work with the dogs)… I understand your spring fever, but while you are away, the weeds grow wild and tall. The garden and I carry on without you – because a garden doesn’t make itself. The roses have been fed their poo tea and the narcissus tied back. The paths have been freshly laid. The weeds have been are being pulled and the beds mulched. And the new entry has been […]

Categories: Gardening, Nature, Nature Photography • Tags: California Poppy, Ceanothus, Cherry Blossom, Garden in Spring, Golden Retriever Garden, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Memorial Garden, Lavatera, Lilac, Nature Photography, Rosebud

Of Gardens and Rescue Dogs

March 5, 2017 by Ogee

What a garden needs is time, patience, love, nurturing, hope, and room to grow. What a rescue dog needs… time, patience, nurturing, hope, and room to grow. “One of the greatest virtues of gardening is this perpetual renewal of youth and spring, of promise of flower and fruit that can always be read in the open book of the garden, by those with an eye to see, and a mind to understand.” ~ E.A. Bowles The greatest virtues of rescue […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Gardening, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue • Tags: Animal Rescue, Gardens Golden Retrievers, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Photography, Spring Garden, Tulips

In Its Season

December 4, 2016 by Ogee

I have reclaimed my refrigerator. As any West Coast gardener knows – this is not about household tips. It’s about spring bulb planting. Daffodil bulbs can safely go into the ground in November at the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden. Many even return when left to “over-summer.” But tulips, hyacinths, and others require special treatment. In our warm Valley, there is no such thing as cold storage. So the bulbs are lifted in very late spring and stored in the refrigerator […]

Categories: Gardening, Nature Photography • Tags: Fall Garden, Gardens Golden Retrievers, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Spring bulb planting

Finally Fall

October 16, 2016 by Ogee

The rain came – and with it fall. Finally, fall. Signaled by merry frogs, and colored by asters, sage, and Maria’s festive decorations. We caught the tail end of the horrible storm wrecking havoc in the Pacific Northwest. The best part. Even the poppies are reborn with cooler weather and a fresh drink. I’ve been hard at work on the creation of a new bed: an extension of our entry way gardens to replace a section of weedy grass and […]

Categories: Dog Rescue, Gardening, Nature • Tags: CNM Labrador Retriever, dog rescue, Fall Garden, Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Megaesophagus

Wind in the Willow

July 24, 2016 by Ogee

The Willow garden bed has always been a magical place. In the heat of summer, light north breezes blow in off the rice fields and into its deep shade, creating an outsize cool and dark refuge in an otherwise blazing landscape. Countless secrets have passed between dog and human on its bench, and a myriad of “going homes” celebrated under its canopy. Over the past few years, its mighty branches spread beyond their natural border, blocking the light and turning […]

Categories: Gardening • Tags: Belladonna Lily, Homeward Bound Memorial Garden Sacramento, Wadsworth Trees, Willow Tree

Signs of Summer

June 3, 2016 by Ogee

Along with 100-degree temperatures are the season’s latest arrivals: Matilda Poppy, Hollyhock, Coneflower, Lantana, Coreopsis, Daylily, And very busy bees. 🙂

Categories: Gardening • Tags: Coneflower, Coreopsis, Daylily, Flower Photography, Garden Photography, Hollyhock, Lantana, Matilda Poppy, Summer Flowers