Along with 100-degree temperatures are the season’s latest arrivals: Matilda Poppy,
Hollyhock,
Coneflower,
Lantana,
Coreopsis,
Daylily,
And very busy bees. 🙂
Tag: Garden Photography
Bing’s Cinderella Hour
As the summer heat sets in, I prefer to work the garden in the early evening whenever possible.
The Delta Breeze blows lightly to cool the valley, and the setting sun saturates color and creates little jewels through the lens.
“The pale stars were sliding into their places. The whispering of the leaves was almost hushed. All about them it was still and shadowy and sweet. It was that wonderful moment when, for lack of a visible horizon, the not yet darkened world seems infinitely greater—a moment when anything can happen, anything be believed in.” ~ Olivia Howard Dunbar, The Shell of Sense
Unlike the morning which is always chaotic – the gardeners and the dogs racing against the sun and the heat of the day – the evening is productive but blessedly peaceful.
The bunnies, lazy lizards, and settling in birds keep me company as the dogs fall into an exhausted hush.
Twilight is a magical time giving rise to winged beauties and fairy tales – when “anything can be believed in.” Like Bing’s “going home.”
Bing came to us all the way from Taiwan. He’s been home before – unsuccessfully. It was all too much for him then: too much temptation, too many ways to get into trouble! He hollered at other dogs, hunted cats, and little critters best beware.
But people? He has always loved people.
He went home; he came back. He went home; he came back. But something interesting happened as Bing waited in our care: he changed. Not completely. But maybe, just enough. So much so that, last week, he even accompanied one of our volunteers to the annual reunion picnic.
He behaved like a model citizen in a venue filled with dogs and chaos, winning everyone’s attention and praise.
Bing must have felt like a prince at the ball. Transported in style; meeting friends old and new. When the clock struck midnight, he probably assumed his Cinderella moment was over. But by proving himself in a most unexpected way – he earned his “going home” papers, instead. Lorey, one of our devoted volunteers, made him her own.
Photo courtesy Rob Kessel
Anything can happen. Anything can be believed in. That’s the magic of the garden at sunset – and this place we call Homeward Bound.
Purpose for The Day
“I sit in my garden, gazing upon a beauty that cannot gaze upon itself. And I find sufficient purpose for my day.” ~ Robert Brault
A Day of Solitude
“You need a village, if only for the pleasure of leaving it.” ~ Casare Paves
The rescue is my village – and often my haven. But between my day job and my volunteer work for the rescue evenings and weekends, I was reminded that it I have been working seven day weeks for a very long time. We’ve had some joyous times recently – and some very difficult ones. I woke up very much feeling under the weather: mentally- more than physically.
So I slept in very late … and then went where I am always happiest: the garden. My own this time.
“Home is a shelter from storms — all sorts of storms.” ~ William J. Bennett
If you look on the USDA map, the city of Sacramento where I live, and the rescue – which is in open country only 20 miles away – are both supposed to be in the same Zone 9. But any good gardening site will show you that the city has its own micro-climate which is much more Mediterranean. Protected by trees, houses and buildings, it can rise all the way to Zone 14. It is evident in my home garden, where things are still – or already – blooming.
It has been sorely neglected. So today – the roses were pruned, the last of the leaves were raked, and the soggy messes cleaned up as the next wave of rain settled in. In solitude.
Well … near solitude. The hummingbirds kept me company.
And when the work was done – there was, of course, a (wet) dog or two to return to.
“A village means that you are not alone, knowing that in the people, the trees, the earth, there is something that belongs to you, waiting for you when you are not there.” ~Casare Pavese
Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Day and a work holiday. I’ll likely return to “the village” and get my fix of dogs and memorial garden – with a more restored sense of self. Solitude is sometimes good for the soul.
“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone, and that’s where I renew my springs that never dry up.” ~ Pearl Buck
Waiting patiently
Summer said ‘hang on…not so fast.’
Golden light, a few fallen leaves, and sweatshirts in the morning convinced us that the relief of Fall was finally upon us. “Fools,” said Mother Nature.
She has prepared one last (we hope!) hurrah –
a farewell blast of week-long century-plus heat as if to torture us and our exhausted garden.
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~ John Steinbeck
The summer heat and rationed water have left the Memorial Garden looking very different in early September than in season’s past.
Missing are the Dahlias, Coneflowers, and Sunflowers. But the Obedience Plant, Asters, and Goldenrod stilled arrived on schedule.
We soldier on…taking our example from our lioness, Ginger.
At eight years old, this only-dog-child was displaced when a tiny human child came along. She lost her family and at the same time, her hips gave way to severe hip dysplasia. Surrendered to us, she had bilateral FHO hip surgery to restore her mobility and relieve her pain.
It has been a long, difficult summer – and she is ready and anxious for a new season to begin.
With this sweet face and soulful eyes, we’re pretty sure it is just around the corner…
Waiting patiently with our Fall.
Thanks to Rob Kessel for his beautiful Ginger portrait.
Paid in Smiles
My sister, Debra, is involved in rescue of the feline sort. She is part of a group with a well-earned reputation for its effective trap, neuter and release (TNR) program to reduce the feral cat population in her town back East. A much better writer, she blogs about her work with this all-volunteer community effort, and the joy of living and working with animals in general. (Stealing one of her images…I’m pretty sure she’ll forgive me).
Her program had a tough week – the kind where you find the limits of what you can and cannot accomplish or cure.
Every couple of weeks, we put new recruits through a volunteer orientation.
The long-term “stick-around” rate is in the low double digits because they encounter the kind of realities my sister faced this week. Hard work – this rescue stuff. It takes a giant heart that you have to be willing to leave open – while simultaneously protecting, knowing that the work makes an important difference as it did for our Kobe, here.
“Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace.” ~ Victor Hugo
I am in awe of the people who remain committed to difficult efforts despite the emotional risk. When I look at these faces, I am so grateful for the humans who return – week after week – to ours. Meet Mary, 12:
And Libby, also 12:
“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.” ~ Edward Everett Hale
I nearly forgot to update you … sweet Emma, my first surrender intake, went home just two weeks after she arrived. From fear and trepidation…
to happy and excited to begin her new life – you would not recognize her as the same dog.
“Volunteers are paid in six figures…S-M-I-L-E-S.” ~ Gayla LeMaire
Kasey…all 14 years of him. 🙂 Payment made.
A June Night
“If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance.” ~ Bern Williams
The Homeward Bound Memorial Garden – in early summer evening light.
Holiday Cheer
Saturday morning, there were two adoptions on the weekly board. By evening there were seven. This is all the cheer I need to make my holiday bright.
“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store. What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
~ Dr. Seuss
But, try as we might to empty the kennels before Christmas Eve, there are always new recruits.
Darbee snagged the coveted office dog spot, which makes her Judy’s (current) favorite.
This adorable little girl looks like a cross between a Golden and a Corgi with a little Basset Hound rolled in for good measure.
Yule was a stray, rescued from the shelter. Part Golden, part Great Pyrenees.
Scared and very thin, his wary face turned to smiles in Maria’s hands (which means she found a way out of gardening chores!)
The rains have turned our garden and walking paths to lakes and mud, but after three years of drought, no one is complaining. The rice field next door once again supports migrating geese and herons.
And the bees were enjoying the last of the roses and the blooming Ceanothus on a late, warm, December day.
Nature’s Yuletide decorations cannot be beat.
Why Heaven Made Dogs
“If Heaven made him — earth can find some use for him.” ~ Chinese Proverb
As our garden matures, it has found purpose beyond beauty. Our compost now makes soil. Our passion vine feeds caterpillars –
that turn into beautiful Gulf Fritillary butterflies.
Nature has a way of creating purposeful pairs…Monarchs and their symbiotic relationship with Butterfly Weed;
Birds and their perches;
Lizards and turtles?
Apparently in our garden – if no where else. Spring needs Fall;
Bees need flowers;
And dogs need homes. Among others, Daphne and Delilah found theirs together this weekend…
And Indy, too.
And why did heaven make dogs?
“Dogs come into our lives to teach us about love, they depart to teach us about loss. A new dog never replaces an old dog; it merely expands the heart. If you have loved many dogs, your heart is very big.” ~ E. Jong
Fall’s Last Loveliest Smile
“Come, little leaves,”
Said the wind one day,
“Come over the meadows
With me, and play;
Put on your dresses
Of red and gold;
Summer is gone,
And the days grow cold.” ~ George Cooper
The garden is looking splendid, adorned in its fall colors. Ina’s asters have spilled over the fence in a wave of purple…
The roses are on parade and playing host to all kinds of creatures (look closely)…
and our golden pups are happy to lay in the garden and yards, soaking up the autumn sun.
We played host to special visitors today. Greg Gayton is a manager for Green Acres Nursery. I’m sure many of our plants looked familiar to him – their three area stores are a little too conveniently located near me and Ina. In fact, the flowering plum that we planted last weekend made its way here from there. Although Greg has donated many plants personally, he had not seen the Memorial Garden in three seasons. Back then, I’m not sure he gave it much hope. A lot has changed!
I was sorry that Ina and Maria were not here to meet him. He and Ina speak the same language; Botanical Latin. It’s Greek to me. And I’m sure Maria would have enjoyed touring him and picking his brain about her new California Natives yard. Brody, his beautiful Golden, originates from Homeward Bound.
His family is equally stunning.
“Autumn. The year’s last loveliest smile.” ~ William Cullen Bryant
Wordless Wednesday: Finally Fall
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 