Garden Photography – Page 4 – Gardens For Goldens

Lifting Power

Hummingbirds are considered a symbol tirelessness, perseverance and joy.

The fact that one took up residence in our outdoor alcove was probably a good sign for this week which required the first two qualities in spades and ultimately led to the third.

When one of our previously adopted Reservoir Dogs got loose from his home, our team sprang into action and our community came together. With temperatures unseasonably warm and hovering around 100, there was no time to spare. The call went out through social media for help and our Homeward Bound volunteers answered in force. Social media is an amazing tool in the rescue toolbox, but when your pet first goes missing, there is just no substitute for old-fashioned boots on the ground. Volunteers searched from early light until very late at night, driving, walking and crawling through bushes in parks, cemeteries and alleys. And so it was – at 5:30 on a Saturday morning – that our beloved Michael (now Cooper) was spotted hiding in an alley by one of our volunteers. An hour of so later, he was safely home.

Tirelessness…perseverance…and joy.

There was joy for two other Reservoir Dogs this week – Joshua and Grandpa Buddy went home as well.

Only Hunter remains. It is just a matter of time and right fit for this special boy.

Back in the garden, we have a crisis of a different proportion to attend to: Spotted Cucumber Beetles have invaded.

With the surrounding rice fields flooded and the heat dispensing with the rest of the field weeds, they have come to the garden to dine and multiply.

I read that Tangle Trap in upside down paper cups with use of Oil of Cloves as lure can help reduce the population without insecticides (which would be harmful to our bees, butterflies and ladybugs). If you have any experience with this – please weigh in to rescue our beautiful garden before it is not!

To all of the volunteers who follow this blog and helped in the search…thank you. I’m so proud to be a part of this team.

“It is a fact that in the right formation, the lifting power of many wings can achieve twice the distance of any bird flying alone.” ~ Author Unknown

Awe

“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ~ W.B. Yeats

Walking into the Memorial Garden this weekend, I was overcome with awe.

During the week, it seemed like everything was in bloom – like an orchestra moving from chaotic warm up notes to a full blown symphony…

only this symphony was of sight, color and smell. So overwhelmingly beautiful – I scarcely know how to describe it. Everywhere I looked there was a treasure from a previous season making its re-appearance. Our garden is back!

“These beautiful days … do not exist as mere pictures – maps hung upon the walls of memory to brighten at times when touched by association or will … They saturate themselves into every part of the body and live always.” ~ John Muir

The day was punctuated with other happy notes. Young Ava’s birthday present wish was donations of kibble for our pups. It was fulfilled in spades and delivered in person, along with 67 cases of canned food in response to our appeal for a dog whose jaw had to be rebuilt.

Two of our Reservoir Dogs found their forever homes; a third goes home on Monday. Amazingly, Michael – who was one of the shyest upon arrival, was among the first to bloom. His new “mom” Tara was smitten from the first time we wrote about him, checking in weekly on his progress. As soon as he became available, she was on our doorstep, clearly in love.

Joseph will enjoy the company of dogs in his ready-made family…just as soon as he finishes his nap!

Exhausted from a day of planting, hauling mulch and clearing foxtails and about to head home, I was overcome again. Our transport arrived with five more dogs…three with significant medical needs. To watch our team kick into gear, calming fears, reassuringly introducing them to their new surroundings, assessing and beginning to care for their needs…I was left speechless and filled with another kind of awe; esteem and admiration. The beauty of the garden pales in comparison to the goodness and dedication of these people. There truly is magic here.

Renewed

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

It is hard to be a weekend-only gardener of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden. So much changes during the week at this time of year; I have to take time just to soak it up each Saturday morning when I return. It is amazing to see last year’s perennials push their way skyward once again as the garden reshapes itself after the long winter.

The Snapdragon, Iceland Poppies and tiny Viola flowers worried Ina – a horticulturist with a penchant for California natives. She thought they might be too grandmotherly…but I think they have won her over, begrudgingly.

The roses are beginning to bloom.

You wonder what weighs them down? The tiny frogs have already taking up residence!

The California Poppies have opened; their gold offers striking contrast to the Lavender backdrop.

Maria’s Herb Garden is already lush and new additions will quickly fill in any holes.

Ina has prepared all of her beds for the dry days ahead, tucking them in with a blanket of shreds.

Even the Killdeer are back…leaving their nest eggs smack in the middle of the dog park!

Maria is off on another adventure, which means that I was left unsupervised on Saturday. That always spells trouble – and planting! When we began the garden, each person had their own bed to do with as they pleased. The good news was that the work was divided up; the downside was that the garden felt a little disjointed. Now that our core group is a little smaller, we can “color outside the lines” a little. I planted two beds, bridging the Daylily bed to the Rose bed – and the Perennial bed to a tree circle garden, echoing the most drought tolerant plantings in each.

Ina thinks I’m nuts (again), but allows me to play as long as I steer clear of her beds!

With the “dorms” (aka “kennel”) full – the dog walkers arrived in force this weekend, allowing me to work without too much guilt. There were dogs everywhere…

and some happy “going homes” including the dog I wrote about last week; our other Daisy who had been returned for being a still rambunctious two-year old. This time, we found the perfect home where her youthful exuberance will be exhausted by an outdoor-loving and very active mom.

The world is right again.

Some Assembly Required

Gardens don’t just appear. They require constant tending and editing. With lots of effort, what begins as a blank canvas of earth and weeds, takes shape over time.

Sometimes, the progress seems imperceptible and the wait is hard to bear. There are always occasional setbacks and different approaches have to be attempted before it all comes together. Until one day – you look about you, marveling at what it has all become.

Daisy went home today. A five-year old girl who is never without her toys or sweet disposition – but she comes with occasional seizures. The seizures can be intimidating at first – but manageable once you learn what is needed.

She is a quiet, gentle, loving girl who just requires a little tending to. Another girl was recently returned to us. Despite our best intentions, we did not make a perfect match. It turns out that the family was really expecting a perfectly trained, well-behaved dog under two years of age. This pup is not a wild child by any means – but she does require someone who is committed to bringing out the best in her.

We have lots of perfectly trained, well-behaved dogs – but they tend to be older and have come to us because someone – who has put great love and care into the raising of their dog – has had a life change so significant that the dog had to be surrendered. We do get young dogs – but frequently as a result of insufficient initial shaping, tending and care. Adorable puppies can become unruly dogs without guidance.

“Gardening requires lots of water — most of it in the form of perspiration.” ~ Lou Erickson

Dogs – like gardens – or any creature/human, are a reflection of the effort we put in to them. Some assembly is definitely required. It’s hard work – with results that delight.

As I look around the Memorial Garden – drenched in rain and then in sun – I cannot believe that we are only entering our third season.

So transformed is it – from an unruly acre of weeds and a jungle of blackberries. The same is possible for our returned girl. Next time, maybe we’ll find her a gardener.

Spring and Hope Greet the Garden

“She turned to the sunlight
And shook her yellow head,
And whispered to her neighbor:
“Winter is dead.”
~ A.A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

Spring has greeted the garden.

The rains last week produced blossoms on the apple tree, and set the Wisteria, Iris and Tulips to blooming.

Maria has been working on a new stone base and platform for the St. Francis statue that graces the garden. A mysterious message: “finish me” – appeared to urge her on.

Between stones and mortar, she planted sunflower seeds in the Iris and annuals bed.

Rows of sunflowers will hopefully frame a colorful center of annuals and grace us long after the Iris have faded away. I focused on replacing the Little John plants that we lost to frost last winter in the entry beds. Ina strictly forbade me to go to the nursery in springtime. She must have known that would only encourage me. A mix of drought tolerant Lavender, Ceanothus, and Artemesia will provide near year-round interest – and their performance is proven through two seasons in the garden.

“Spring drew on…and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps.” ~ Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

The ten dogs that arrived nearly two weeks ago are gradually coming out of their shells.

Tails are less tucked and smiles quietly cross their faces.

They are gaining weight and regaining their strength.

We call them “The Reservoir Dogs” and you can read their rescue story by following this link.

Dakota is one of our latest arrivals.

He needed emergency surgery to remove one of his eyes – a choke-related injury. We are hopeful that the other eye has been saved; it appears better each day.

You’ll notice an unusual twist to his paw as well. While he does not let it slow him down, he will be having surgery soon to repair and restore his beautiful gait.

These dogs have endured some long hard days – like the garden has weathered winter. But it is spring again – and hope is everywhere.

Rain Falling on Sunshine

There is a saying that God made rainy days so gardeners could get housework done. To heck with that.

We had two storms move through this week. While they didn’t put a significant dent in our drought situation, the rain did bring welcome relief to our thirsty trees and gardens.

Paired with warm temperatures, the flowers, leaves – and weeds – are exploding.

So, a showery – sometimes rainy – day was not going to deter us from enjoying the early spring celebration, or getting a jump on weeding. Maria and I arrived early to find the daffodils, tulips and rosemary blooming, the willow tree leafing, and the lawn freshly mowed for the first time this year (thank you, Rob).

The rainy day also brought a welcome guest. Tigger went home a month ago as a foster. We do that when a dog is being medically treated to carry the cost of care for the family, and to ensure that all will be well before an adoption is finalized.

When Tigger went home, he was suffering from still uncontrolled diarrhea. For that transgression, he had been surrendered to a shelter where his fate would be clear. The team brought him to Homeward Bound.

While he improved with medications, he needed to be in a stable, home environment. After a month with his amazing new family, his health is back on track, and his weight is up by six pounds.

Clearly surrounded by love, he is a totally different – and completely doted upon – dog. His adoption was finalized.

“Is the spring coming?” he said. “What is it like?”…”It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine.” ~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden

Through the Lens

“It pleases me to take amateur photographs of my garden, and it pleases my garden to make my photographs look professional.” ~ Robert Brault

I have enjoyed taking amateur pictures of our garden – watching it progress through the seasons and develop over time. But lately, the amateur quality of the photos has been a sense of growing frustration and disappointment instead of joy. So, with appreciation to our Presidents for the three-day weekend, I rented a camera that takes a couple of leaps from my current gear.

When I started studying painting many moons ago, my student tools were inexpensive gessoed muslin canvas, cheap brushes and acrylic paints. I will never forget the first time I put fine sable brushes and a light oil wash to a linen canvas primed with rabbit skin glue (sorry bunny). The paint had a completely different feel, a brilliance and transparency. It did as I commanded – effortlessly gliding into place. That has been my experience behind the lens this weekend. Not just photographing our budding spring…

or happy birds…

but the beauty of the dogs –

and the delight in the faces of our volunteers and families.

“If I could tell the story in words, I wouldn’t need to lug around a camera” ~ Lewis Hine

Tuesday, I return the camera and turn back into a pumpkin. But something tells me there is a purchase in my future. So when words are inadequate, I can (happily) share our joy in photographs with you.

Wordless Wednesday: Petal Party

Almost Wordless Wednesday: Rob’s Work

Rob and his camera keep an eye on the memorial garden when we cannot. View more of his beautiful work here.

Friends Together

“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

We did a training and post on the Homeward Bound blog recently on how to do a meet and greet with dogs. It seems everyone has gotten into the spirit of making new friends!

Butterflies…

Bees…

Butterflies and bees.

Frogs…can you count them all here? Hint: some are fuzzy.

Frog 1

Frog 2

Frogs 3 and 4

Frogs 3 and 4 getting a little too friendly!

Brand new recruits Liberty and Skipper were getting into the spirit as well –

with Apollo making them feel more than welcome.

You may have noticed that Apollo is not much of a Golden. We love him anyway – and hope he’ll find his special someone soon!

Even our gardeners came together today.

We’re prepping the Memorial Garden for a very special occasion next weekend. Can’t wait to share. Until then…try leaving your corner of the forest for a bit to see what new friends you might find.

Our Adventure

“When you see someone putting on his Big Boots, you can be pretty sure that an Adventure is going to happen.” ~ A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Two years ago next month, the Homeward Bound Memorial Gardeners put on their “big boots” to rescue an acre of weeds and bring forth a garden. And what an adventure it has been!

Today, while Peggy and Steve began dividing the iris,

Ina, Sarah and I installed the entry beds.

We got to reminiscing about how far we have come in just the last year.

California Garden last September…

and now:

Herb and St. Francis Gardens last fall…

and now:

What a difference a year makes.

Returning a tool to the garage, I caught a glimpse of Lilly piling into a car and heading to her forever home.

She’s one of our special needs dogs who has been waiting a while for just the right family. My heart skipped a beat and I was reminded of what this labor of love is for. Happy new life, Lilly…off to new adventures! We will miss you, beautiful girl.