Tag: Dog Photography
Elfin Magic
There are elves among us.
I don’t know where they hide, but they leave their mysteries and mischief all over the garden.
Bunnies that rearrange themselves to better smell the flowers…
beautiful sayings that magically appear in the beds…
stepping-stones crafted by small hands…
wind chimes and bird houses that find their way into trees…
and trees that are mysteriously deposited without so much as a note.
Can anyone identify this tree so we know what to do with it, please?
Each week, they leave little surprises in the garden to bewilder and bemuse. And gifts…they bring us gifts.
They brought us sweet, sugar-faced Hudson with his ever-outstretched paw,
And darling Nikki, also recovering from surgery.
They delivered Winston to us, with his crazy legs that go every which way but forward.
And magic. With barely a drop of rain and little water, they still manage to bring us flowers…
birds…
bees…
and butterflies.
There is elfin magic here.
“The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” ~ Eden Phillpotts
If a dog was the teacher…
“Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like: When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride. Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
Take naps.
Stretch before rising. Run, romp, and play daily.
Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
On hot days, drink lots of water…
and lie under a shady tree.
When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
Be loyal.
Never pretend to be something you’re not.
If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.”
~ Author unknown. From a larger story found frequently quoted but without attribution; you can read it here.
Several photos were contributed by my friend, Rob Kessel – with thanks and appreciation for your talents.
Wordless Wednesday: Fool’s Gold
(It’s what we call our fake Golden friends…all equally beloved.)
Wordless Wednesday: Tara
How We Come Here
I’ve learned that the best gardens are patchworks of the found, shared and transplanted. The trees, flowers and shrubs of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden are a collection of new, old and passed on beauties.
Some arrive on our door step. Other have been lifted from gardens we love – always with permission, of course!
Their common destination is a loosely structured garden with unique pockets created for the creatures who inhabit it. Bunnies, birds, snakes, pesky snails –
and dogs, of course.
Like our plants, they arrive from everywhere. Jersey Girl – one of our newest arrivals – traveled all the way across the country from Tennessee thanks to a network of folks dedicated to rescue. Her adventure took over two weeks of travel and foster. Passed from one to another like a precious gift. She is terrified of thunder and her people knew that our quiet valley would be a better place for her.
Eve was found wandering. She was accompanied by a large tumor – likely from raising too many puppies – and she is almost completely blind from cataracts. If we can successfully do away with the first, we hope to remove the other and restore her health and her sight.
Some arrive on wings – like our Taiwan dogs…
and a prayer – for a new life and a forever home. Surrendered, found, rescued.
Rescued dogs – like rescued gardens – return their good fortune a hundred fold.
Wordless Wednesday: My Girl
Summer’s Arrival
Summer is officially just around the corner – as the 100+ degree temperatures last weekend made clear. Deep, bold colors replace pastels in the garden –
sprigs become stalks.
and the bees are so busy gathering that I can weed – or photograph – among them and barely be noticed.
“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don’t they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.” ― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine
Last weekend was ridiculously hot. It happened on the same weekend last year. 105-108 in early June. Record breakers. But the early heat wave was followed by a much more temperate summer. Fingers crossed that we experience a repeat this year.
While the heat did away with the last of the spring flowers, it did coax out blossoms on the Bee Balm, Agapanthus, Lantana and Rudbeckia…
Now all we need are the Sunflowers and Dahlias which are coming along.
Only a few of the Milkweed (Asclepias) – which was everywhere last year – have reappeared. Probably eaten by those nasty Cucumber beetles. I will need to replant from seedlings soon for our Monarch friends.
The dogs are clearly loving the cooler temperatures this week. This face greeted me early Saturday morning. Hello Milo!
He and his friend Molly are one of three pairs we have recently received.
These beautiful long coats feel much better in cool breezes!
“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” ― Henry James
Cheers to the arrival of summer!
Wild Thing
Little Baldwin was one of four feral pups literally raised in the wild, the son of a Golden Mom and Black Lab Dad. Somehow, his Dad – broken jaw and all – got them to a firehouse for rescue. Little by little they learned the ways of loved dogs.
One by one, they were adopted; little Baldwin – the mightiest of them all – was last to be picked. Suddenly alone, he was not quite so brave anymore.
“The king of all wild things, was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him best of all.”
He attended a couple of puppy classes, but at the end of each, he went back to his yard as the others went home. He was still a rescue dog.
“There should be a place where only the things you want to happen, happen.”
That place is called ‘home.’ One day, these very nice people took a look at him and said “you’re the one we’ve been waiting for.”
“And the walls became the world all around.”
Just a few weeks later, Baldwin – now Duke – is not looking from the outside in – he is officially enrolled in puppy training with his best buds Oreo and Sage. Each lesson begins with a little wild time to get the energy out.
“And now…let the wild rumpus start!”
“And the wild things roared their terrible roars and gnashed their terrible teeth and rolled their terrible eyes and showed their terrible claws.”
“But the wild things cried, “Oh please don’t go- We’ll eat you up- we love you so!” ~ Maurice Sendak, Where the Wild Things Are
Inside all of us is… hope.
Inside all of us is… fear.
Inside all of us is… adventure.
Inside all of us is a wild thing.
Transcendent Moments
The weather turned very warm again this weekend…brushing 100-degrees and testing our commitment!
Maria and Ina were both out…my garden partners returned after their treks far and wide. Defying the temperatures and the bunny literally staring her in the face, Maria has planted rows and rows of tiny sunflower plants. I suspect that they are just tonight’s dinner – but you have to admire her persistence. It is a battle of wills now. Some will remember that we disposed of the bunnies’ favorite den – the monster blackberry bramble – a season ago. Now they have taken up residence right in the middle of Maria’s sunflowers. Bunny revenge!
The heat brings the dogs to the garden – seeking shade and some cool grass to roll in. This is Jenna who arrived last night – literally pulled from a shelter by one of our awesome volunteers in her final hour. Her joy (and ours) is obvious.
Gypsy is another new arrival and a certified fence jumper. We’ll have to work on that wanderlust and find her a home that she’ll never want to leave.
Canelo is a young boy – only about one year of age – who lost his leg and has really struggled with recovery. Most tripods bounce back quickly, but not this boy. So our volunteers crawled through the 120-degree attic to find and rehab this cart for him. It immediately changed his perspective; we have hope that it changes his future as well.
Hunter is the last of the Reservoir Dogs still with us. Such a sweet boy. He and his tennis ball are inseparable –
but he did discover that he would trade a ball for a birdie…if only he could catch one!
The garden was warm and buzzing with hundreds of honey bees, gratefully soaking up all that was offered.
“Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world.” ~
John Milton
Wordless Wednesday: Pax
Wordless Wednesday: Heads or Tails?
Gardens For Goldens 