Perfect Fits
In a garden, it’s important to think ahead about a plant’s attributes, needs, and the space it will fill (not to mention a gardener’s skill). For example: Ina’s green thumb and her grasses…another path lost!
These weed trees (even the arborist couldn’t identify them!) were planted before we arrived on the scene at the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden. Over the course of three seasons, they grew to a height of about 20 feet and they were still headed skyward. Scraggly, branches shooting out in all directions, with roots as big as their trunks.
Without a lot of forethought, a Mulberry, Rosebud and two 20-feet (and growing) weed trees were planted in one garden bed. Something had to go! Ina felled the middle one a few weeks ago; covered it with a black plastic bucket and left it to rot. Since we planned on replacing the one on the end with a pretty “Purple Pony” Flowering Plum, the stump and roots had to go. Three people (thanks Maria and Frank!); two saws; one power tool; and a sledge hammer later…we were ready to plant.
This Flowering Plum variety is a dwarf cultivar and will max out at 12-15 feet. Its flowers will be beautiful in the spring; its deep purple provides the perfect complement to the adjacent yellow and pink roses. The birds will feast on its fruit.
I’m sure the weed trees had their purpose – somewhere else. But they were not a good fit for our garden. Understanding their nature would have spared my aching muscles and their sad end.
With dogs, it is equally important to assess characteristics and personality in order to find the right fit. While we struggled with the tree, a parade of puppies was being taken to the adjacent yard for assessments.
These are the same tiny things I showed you a few weeks ago – now full of spit and vinegar, and ready to go home! To make good matches, we need to understand their unique personalities and temperaments. Do they play nicely;
do they come when called; do they chase a ball…and will they return, or bogart it?
Do they like to cuddle? Or will they squirm if held?
Do they prefer the company of humans or dogs?
You can read about the test and the pups on the Homeward Bound blog (linked here), including a gallery of the individual puppies and a touching video capturing their very first days. Two have been adopted as of today. Ten more to go! We’re hoping for perfect fits for all!
Wordless Wednesday: Special Bond
A little rain must fall
“Dark clouds become heaven’s flowers when kissed by light.” ~ Rabindranath Tagore
We were blessed to wake to rain early Saturday morning.
We are grateful for every drop during this long drought. Rain meant a day of dogs instead of gardening. Time with the pups; another blessing.
Sunday, then, brought twice the load of garden chores; fall is such a busy time in the garden – second only to spring. The day also began with a beautiful fog blanketing all of Homeward Bound including our Memorial Garden.
The soft light captured the fall colors and turned them into illuminated canvases.
Peaking through, I caught a glimpse of couple of favorites out for a stroll: Miss Dazy…
And Victor Mature.
Inside the shed, I found this touching note:
To the garden angels,
This is Rusty’s companion, Rosie. Three weeks after we lost him to Hemangiosarcoma, she let us know she couldn’t go on without him and we lost her, too. Could you put her in the rose garden next to Rusty?
Thanks, Carole
They belong together.
“Be still, sad heart! And cease repining; behind the clouds is the sun still shining; thy fate is the common fate of all, into each life some rain must fall.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Wordless Wednesday: Happy Chevy!
Happy Homecomings
We like every dog to know they are special, but when you help hundreds of dogs each year on their journeys home, being original about naming them can be a little difficult. So each month, we turn to themes. Composers, poets, artists…and this month: cars. I know. It’s just wrong.
Meet Mercedes.
And Rambler.
But Odyssey?? Just look at that disgust on his face.
Selecting cars as the theme this month turns out to be a bit apropos – given how much time our teammates just spent in them.
This is Marley.
He is an extremely thunder-phobic dog who happened to live in Illinois: not good a good place for dogs afraid of thunder. He is so frightened by thunderstorms that he will hurt himself if left alone during one. He is very closely bonded to his sister, Harlo. So the decision was made to send them together to a place where thunderstorms are extremely rare. That place is the Sacramento Valley – home of Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.
Miss Harlo is a mellow girl, who made the trip by plane without incident. But Marley was having none of that. Even sedated, he freaked out. Time for the Golden Taxi!
Three teams of two relayed to ferry him two thousand miles over three days. Last night he was reunited with his sister in a touching welcome home. (Thanks to Rob Kessel for capturing the moment.)
Because special needs dogs need special plans, we had already contacted a family on our waiting list. Previous adopters, they were looking for a canine companion for their Ella. Instead of one, they fell for two. It’s a perfect match!
Tonight, Marley and Harlo are beginning a new chapter together in a loving home.
Meanwhile, I have been reunited with Maria – one of my bonded gardeners who went A.W.O.L. for three weeks and finally returned. I was so happy to have company again, I let her dress the Memorial Garden in silly fall regalia.
Sammy wasn’t so sure about these scary scarecrows – but with Steve by her side…it’s all good!
Happy homecoming and next chapter to Marley and Harlo. Welcome home, Maria! The garden missed you!
Wordless Wednesday: Julius, In Loving Memory
Made for each other
Some things are just made for each other: butterflies and flowers…
tiny frogs in roses…
the color gold and fall.
We had a weekend full of “made for each others” at Homeward Bound including Bogart and Bacall – a bonded pair that we insisted go home together. It took a little longer, but today they found their bonded human pair.
Mylee – at just ten months, is full of youthful spunk and energy; perfect for a family of kids and a runner mom to exhaust her puppy enthusiasm.
And Billy Joel. Born with extra toes and missing two wrist bones, his paw is permanently fixed in something that looks like a ballet pose.
He has adapted well and it does not slow him down one bit, so the doc says “leave it” unless it becomes a problem.
But that can be a hard thing to explain to people looking for a “perfect” dog. Until today.
He went home on a trial run – just to be sure everything works out. And we sure hope it does. Because, by the looks of things, he too found the perfect someone he was made for.
“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” ~ Albert Einstein
Wordless Wednesday: Cats Rule
Ever wonder how we determine if a dog is good with cats?
Trust me…they can hold their own!
The Smallest Things
“Sometimes,’ said Pooh, ‘the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” ~ A.A. Milne
It is 96-degrees in the evening on the first weekend of October, which officially makes it too hot to write. My brain is fried. So I bring you a collection of the smallest things from the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden (and Homeward Bound in general). Warning: make some room in your heart. ♥
Wordless Wednesday: Goofy Tucker
A drop in the bucket
We had an unexpected surprise this week…something we haven’t seen in a very long while: rain!
While the rainfall total is but a drop in our drought bucket, we are so grateful. It delivered a much-needed assist to the firefighters battling the massive King Fire in El Dorado County, about 70 miles from us. After two weeks and thousands displaced, the 97,000 acre fire is now 87% contained.
The garden soaked up every drop and enjoyed a few consecutive days of cloud cover.
In response, it spewed forth tiny frogs,
snails,
and a host of mushrooms…one of the gifts of our bark paths when the days are darker and there is finally moisture.
You’ll remember Moses from my Say Goodbye To Summer post? Well, your good wishes worked. He went home this weekend –
joining Carly Simon, Loki, Gordon (below right with his new sister, Sophie) –
Casey, Reacher and Ginger (pictured left with her new sugar-faced sisters).
Patsy Cline and Coki went to foster. Curious about the names? You try being original after rescuing nearly 8,000 dogs!
It was another good weekend for adoptions. Heard among our volunteers: “We have lots of open kennels.” Quickly followed by the arrival of seven (at last count) more.
Seven adoptions; two fosters…a drop in the bucket that keeps being refilled. But, like the rain, we – at Homeward Bound – are grateful for each and every one.
Gardens For Goldens 