Gardening – Page 11 – Gardens For Goldens

A promise made; a promise kept

“If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.” ~ Will Rogers

The most important installation in the progress of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden was finally completed this week. It shamed me a little that this one took so long, but it’s timing is perhaps fitting – as this year, the garden will burst forth in spring celebrating all the hard work of our first season’s plantings.

Our Memorial Path is where families remember their beloved pups with a commemorative brick. The bricks are laid in a sand base, so we can easily replace blank ones with new dedications,

until someday, every brick relays a special message to our pups over the rainbow bridge.

Thanks to Joe Porto and his crew of Top Line Masonry for their beautiful work.

It brings both tears and joy to walk, read, and remember. This one in particular – as it is dedicated to Chelsea, the Golden Retriever who inspired all that Homeward Bound has become.

A lasting tribute, soon surrounded by all the blessings of spring.

It was the perfect time after all.

Work is love made visible

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

Handle With Care

Saturday was spent continuing to clear the shrubs and trees along the drive of the pesky Morning Glories. Progress is slow, and my aches and pains are a reminder that I am not as young as I once was.

An impromptu trip to the nursery was fortuitous. The Highbush Blueberries were in stock, and going fast. I picked up 12; six for each raised bed where the blackberries were unceremoniously removed from their resting place in the Memorial Garden. There are four different varieties which will keep us in blueberries from early to late season – assuming success.

This is not a simple plop in the ground operation. The Highbush Blueberries can be grown in our area, but they still require extra care. They demand somewhat acidic soil and good drainage. Our raised bed will help with drainage; mounds running the length of the bed will assist. We’ll amend the soil to make it more acidic, incorporating compost and sand as well. I read that coffee grounds placed at the bottom of each planting hole can also help with the ph level. Guess it can’t hurt.

Finally, we are advised to mulch with a layer of pine straw – a luxury around here that has to be shipped in. These simple looking shoots should come with a difficulty label rating, like those projects you have to assemble. But we’re accustomed to handling things with extra care around here.

These sweet pups are breeder dog rescues. The come to us having spent their whole lives in the production of puppies. Unaccustomed to human interaction, building trust is a painfully slow process.

Chris and Steve dedicated a good portion of their morning to coaxing them out to sit in the sun, while learning that a human touch could be kind and comforting.

Kylo and Rose have both had recent surgeries to address long neglected issues.

“This is what you should do;
love the Earth
and sun and the animals…”
~ Walt Whitman

We will love them all at Homeward Bound.

Obsessed? Yes.

“The trouble with gardening is that it does not remain an avocation. It becomes an obsession.” ~ Phyllis McGinley

You know how you can become so accustomed to something that you don’t even see it anymore? Today, I suddenly noticed how neglected the entry way to the entire Sanctuary has become. While we did not exactly sign up for this duty, it desperately needs to be done.

Morning Glories are literally choking the Crepe Myrtles along the drive; shoots have grown out of control; and the bird-spread seeds are threatening to become full-grown trees.

I know we’re in the country, but this is not the first impression we want to make when adopting families come to meet the dogs. So out came the clippers and the under/over brush was cleared enough to see that this will take a garden clean-up day to complete. Time to put out the call for volunteers!

Obsession? Yes. But wait until I show you the ‘after!’

Scouts to the Rescue!

These are the Scouts of the Pioneer District, Miwok Chapter – members of Scouting’s National Honor Society: The Order of the Arrow. And luckily for us – they are experts at removing blackberry roots!

When Homeward Bound needs extra hands, talented builders and strong backs, these are the guys we turn to. Last summer, they built beautiful shade enclosures with seating by the pond for us, so our dog walkers would have a quiet place to work with the dogs. Today was all about digging. Within a few short hours, this crew obliterated the last of the blackberry roots from our raised beds, leaving them spotless and ready for planting Highbush Blueberries.

Meanwhile, the more senior members installed a new length of split rail fencing which now fronts the center of the garden, and creates a beautiful frame for Ina’s California Native Garden.

The Arrowmen of the Order of the Arrow are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, and for providing cheerful service to others. Truly. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that their efforts were powered by hot chocolate and donuts this morning! The Scouts perform service projects throughout their Miwok Chapter region. We’re so thankful it includes us.

Their generous service saves valuable resources for our organization that can be redirected to the rescue of hundreds of dogs each year. You’ve heard of Pitbulls and Parolees? Well, we have Scouts and Goldens. We think they make a wonderful combination.

Incoming

If you look very closely, you can see the first signs of winter’s departure in the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, not far behind the recent weeks’ frost.

Of course, the most beautiful colors in Northern California gardens this time of year come from the oranges and lemons that overflow our trees.

Maria and I finished the shrub roses today – and not a minute too soon, as they are already budding. We left these a little taller than the tea roses so they would continue to climb and cover the fences.

We welcomed and trained a couple of new dog walkers today. They are lured in with puppies before introducing them to the big dogs.

I had the pleasure of meeting Elia and her boy, Cooper. Elia adopted Cooper, and his son, Bear around Memorial Day in 2011. She continues to bring them to Homeward Bound for regular training and socialization.

The same tactic has apparently worked miracles on her two teen boys, who both cook and clean! Who knew?
Some of our best friends visited with us in the garden – Nicholas aka Obi who went from his walk to a bath –

and Gina with her ~~twin~~ best bud, Hank.

Thankfully, we have had a good number of adoptions recently – because the call “incoming!” best describes the latter part of the week. Meet Quinn,

Socrates,

and Kyo.

This is Gus.

While we can all see a little too much of Gus right now, that won’t be the case for long. He was adopted today by folks committed to his future weight reduction and exercise routine.

There’s a lot to love here, but we can’t wait to see the before and after.

And this is Christy.

We share a little in common. She is here is because she lost her human dad not long ago. On top of that, she had a needed surgery and dons this cute t-shirt to prevent her from popping her stitches…again.

She spent a good amount of time with us on a blanket in the garden monitoring the rose pruning while basking in the warm, January sun.

Good fortune shines upon her. A family came through that was instantly taken with her. Keep your fingers crossed; it looks like she might have found her forever home.

There are more on their way. It’s like that in rescue – and in gardens.
“The gardening season officially begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st.” – Marie Huston

pausing

“Learn to pause … or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.” ~ Doug King

Today I paused. I went to the Memorial Garden and worked only at my pace. I walked some dogs; stopping in the garden to spend time with each. A pat on the head; a belly rub; a promise to help them find a home again.

The garden is quiet in January. Everything is curled up in a tight, frost-bitten bundle protecting its roots and the shoots we will see by this time next month.

Just a few of us here – the walkers,

the birds,

and the dogs who keep us company.

“Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay –
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.”
~ Charles Kingsley

Until the spring leaps, we will gladly make do with dog kisses.

Winter Gathered

Jody and I had a rose pruning session in the (very cold) garden this morning. You’ll recall that we shared a grape pruning session recently.

I think she was pretending inexperience with roses (showing up with manual in hand) just to have an excuse to play in the garden. She took to it immediately, quickly pruning all of the tea roses in her bed. We did a quick lesson on one of the shrub roses growing along the fence, which we will not take back as far. Her instructions are to finish all 21 along the fence perimeter within the next two weeks.

I have been drafted for some marketing help for Homeward Bound (see what happens when you start a blog?) As a result, I spent a good part of my day capturing photos of dogs whose stories will appear in our newsletter and upcoming campaign. Spoiler alert: This is Maggie – she literally saved her Dad’s life. I will bring you the story as soon as it is published.

Cody, Lincoln, and Nicholas will all be featured in our campaign, “Fund of Love” which provides the support needed for up to $300,000 in extraordinary medical expenses that we incur each year.

And this is Rusty and Ginger – a beautiful pair, currently being fostered and in search of their forever home.

Somehow, I managed to get to the rest of the tea roses today; fifteen, I believe. I lost count. This very hungry bee was not happy with my work, clinging to a frost-bitten rose in the pile of clippings – and despairing about the branches left bare.

“Nature looks dead in winter because her life is gathered into her heart. She withers the plant down to the root that she may grow it up again fairer and stronger.” ~Hugh Macmillan, “Rejuvenescence,” The Ministry of Nature, 1871

Nature may be cold and bare in the winter, but we have Golden warmth gathered in our hearts.

The virtues of dogs and gardens

Maria was out at the Memorial Garden today doing some January clean-up and bare root planting. I’m jealous; missing both the pups and the garden. Funny how I’m drawn to such seemingly different obsessions. Dogs offer unconditional love;

gardens require conditions that are just right for sharing their bounty with you. Too warm and they shrivel; too cold and they withhold; too wet and they wilt.

Dogs are grateful; give them food and water, an old blanket, a worn tennis ball, and a pat and they will reward you with devotion.

Gardens have never-ending demands. Water and feed precisely; weed continuously; prune judiciously; stake correctly; and divide appropriately to coax that hoped-for display.

Dogs are loyal; gardens plant their seeds with abandon and will turn on you the minute you take them for granted.

Dogs are defenders; gardens are thorn-bearers.

“Gardening is an exercise in optimism. Sometimes, it is a triumph of hope over experience.”
~ Marina Schinz

Maybe that is it. Gardens are like the rescued dogs of Homeward Bound; an exercise in patience, the consistent the application of kindness, and most of all, hope. The reward: blossoming trust and love. Both leave me breathless.

A Welcome Frost

Below the frosty morning surface of the garden, all the little microorganisms are busy creating nutrients. But for gardeners in need of rest and recovery, January is mercifully slow. After a week of hard overnight frost in the Sacramento Valley, the roses in our Memorial Garden have finally succumbed.

On New Years’ Day, Jody and I completed pruning and tying the grapes; soon, the roses will be ready for their turn.

Yarrow is the only perennial still in bloom,

but we are graced with a silvery green chorus of Artemisia, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender and Rosemary.

The drama of magnificent blooms has been replaced by wildlife’s romantic grace.

“I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape – the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” ~ Andrew Wyeth

With the plants retreating back to the ground, I can see the need to add more permanent structure to the garden; some raised mounds to create height interest and keep tender plants from flooding; a clearer entry path; more evergreen and grass foundation plantings; a stone wall perhaps (a gardener can dream!) The garden has come a long way from last January’s blank canvas – but the picture is not complete yet, by any measure.

As the garden demands less right now, I have quite literally ‘gone to the dogs’ – helping out our dedicated dog walker team.

Today, I got to assist in an introduction; one of our Homeward Bound rescues meeting the pup of a prospective adoptive family to ensure a good match for all. What an incredible feeling to see a connection made; hoping that another may be on its way to a forever home. That was George’s good fortune today, (shhh…one of my favorites.)

I knew I should have gotten in just one more walk with him! Happy life, my friend!

The Year To Come

Ina and I spent Sunday in the Memorial Garden, cutting back the perennials after the first hard frost of the winter season.

Most everything survived the recent deluge, although a few of the youngest trees are worrisome – their roots not yet deep enough to withstand so much water and wind. Ina cleared their bases to ensure they would dry out well. We’ll see what happens over time.

I could not resist playing with my new Christmas present: a macro lens. There are few blooms left in the garden (sunflowers, still!), but those that remained were happy to let me practice. Much to learn.

Homeward Bound was very busy with adoption and foster appointments this weekend. While I do not have the official list to share just yet, there is one I am confident of.

This is Norman. A very sweet boy with a very sad face.

He came to us recently, full of lumps and bumps; thankfully, benign. His age is listed as 10+…which could mean anything north of that. He has difficulty walking, and we suspect, hearing. The walkers had to wake him to entice him out. Once up, he was happy to go and grateful for the company…but had little chance at a forever home due to his age and special needs. Until Edna showed up. Some of you will remember Edna from the “heroes in the garden” post I wrote last August. This week, she is Norman’s angel, taking him home as a likely permanent foster. Late in the evening we heard that he was happily curled up with a kitty in his new home.

“Hope
Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,
Whispering ‘it will be happier’…” ~ Alfred Tennyson

It will be a happier new year for Norman, thanks to his angel, Edna. We wish the same for all the pups out there still waiting. Happy New Year to all.

Appreciating the season

“At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s newfangled mirth;
But like each thing that in season grows.”
~ William Shakespeare

The deluge is over for the time being and I am looking forward to being back in the Memorial Garden this weekend. It is time to trim back the perennials, mow the now unruly lawn, and clean up from our small flood. The season of flowers is past, replaced with the more subtle beauty of browns, grays and sprinkled golds.

There is nothing special about the subject matter today. Just a canvas of winter color to appreciate in its own right.

I’m scheduled to take pictures of some of the Homeward Bound Sanctuary pups this weekend. I’m excited to bring you their gray, gold and white faces –

appreciated “like each thing that in season grows.”