A declaration of drought has been made official in California – as if it were not obvious.
With a soil rich in clay, and an abundance of drought hardy perennials, the Memorial Garden has fared better than most so far.
We cannot count on that continuing…especially with temperatures in the 70’s in January. Ridiculous. So we’ll just revel in what we have today:
Signs of spring in winter,
birds in abundance,
beautiful snowy faces,
and the company of dogs.
Rain dances are, however, welcome.
The skies teased us this weekend.
Dark clouds moved in, raising our hopes for rain. But a sprinkling was all Mother Nature had in store for us.
Days like these are perfect for curling up and napping, dreaming of the warm months ahead – and that’s exactly what the garden is doing.
If you look very closely, you’ll find the tiniest treasures under the blanket of grey and brown…
including these two sweet faces…
And this wonderful pair of dogs who have been cared for by a generous neighbor in a house left vacant after the owner died.
Just four of the 10 dogs – all treasures – who found their way to us in a single day.
“Hopes are planted in friendship’s garden where dreams blossom into priceless treasures.” ~ Author Unknown.
We’ll do our best to fulfill our treasures’ hopes – and keep very busy until the cold subsides and the rains (hopefully) arrive.
“Gardens are a form of autobiography.” ~ Sydney Eddison
This blog being a written and visual account of the life of the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden, the dogs that grace it and my time spent with both, I reflect back on the first day of the new year as we look forward to the second. In backwards order…some of the most memorable moments of the year:
December: Linus and Charlie came too close to being lost, but angels were looking after them. They are happy, healthy, and adopted! Our Christmas miracle.
November: Summer – her cancer treated and forever now in Anna’s loving arms.
October: A wedding. The happiest of memories commemorated in our Memorial Garden.
September: The adoption of deaf Ollie, so long overdue – and sweet Mariposa to a family that continues to inspire us.
August: Dee Dee’s joy. A delightful dog who continues to heal the heart of her new “mom.”
July: Black Jack. Who knew that the person he had been waiting so patiently for would arrive in the form of a remarkable 10-year old boy?
June: The passing of our dear friend, Dick Brothers and the arrival of Moose. Is it possible that their souls crossed paths?
May: Rainier’s rescue. A girl turns out to be a boy and finds a future with the angel who saved his life.
April: My sweet Beatrix. A foster joy for too short a time finds a big brother and a family to love her.
March: Agatha and Anastasia. Taken too soon. We will meet them both again someday at the rainbow bridge.
February: Blind Bogey goes home on Valentine’s Day. His angels: two retired eye-doctors. You can’t script this kind of happy ending.
January: My father’s passing. I miss him still.
I posted a message from our President along with the faces of more than one hundred dogs we have been blessed to help this year. It’s wonderful to look back on them – still, just a fraction of those who have graced us in 2013. You’ll find it here.
Here’s to 2014. To gardens, friends – and all the dogs we will meet this year on their journey…homeward bound.
Photo credit: Rob Kessel
Just a week ago, the garden still managed a display of fading, but beautiful color. Then came the cold.
From west to east across the nation, the freeze is on. The garden has bowed to winter.
“Autumn to winter, winter into spring, Spring into summer, summer into fall, – so rolls the changing year, and so we change; motion so swift, we know not that we move” ~ Dinah Maria Mulock
Record-breaking overnight lows have burst pipes and snapped the flowers from their stems.
The frost lays like a blanket of crystal ice across the landscape.
The sun shines for a bit…until the icy cold blows in again.
Fur coats, shorter outings and warm hugs keep the dogs safe and cozy.
At home, white lights and frost covers protect sensitive plants.
But the Memorial Garden is in the country and on its own while this cold snap drags on…and on…and on.
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.” ~ Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
“A garden is never so good as it will be next year.”~ Thomas Cooper
It seems there is always another project to prepare the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden for the next season. Last week it was the iris bed;
today, some 400 daffodil bulbs sat waiting to be planted for the spring.
So nothing delighted me more than to see a small army of our gardeners show up today. With Diane,
Peggie,
Ina and camera-shy Maria on hand, the garden was weeded, dead-headed and the bulbs got planted on a beautiful fall weekend day.
We continue to be in the company of frogs…
And these nasty things which have been munching on our Pluot tree.
Ina wanted to save the invaders, but I made caterpillar mush of them instead, and left a bit of evidence behind as a warning to their friends.
Of course, we’re always in the company of dogs, which makes our work a true labor of love.
Summer is another of the dogs from Taiwan. She arrived with a myriad of issues, including cancer.
We have hopefully dispensed with all, but there’s no way to be certain. Anna does not care. It was love at first sight.
An introduction to her Jenni was made.
With approval won, the deal was sealed and Summer went home today.
So did Rollie. There was no hesitation at all when that car hatch opened. Inside he found a fresh new bed and a brand new toy. Jackpot! Happy life Rollie.
Our youth volunteers were out in force as well. It is so encouraging to see a new generation involved in rescue. Henzi is a natural, doting on Ella and Maggie in the garden.
Our nights are getting cooler. The watering has been cut back. And our last Dahlia of the season put on a spectacular display.
The foliage is now as impressive as the flowers that remain.
Fall is on glorious display.
“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” ~ Beatrix Potter
Gardens for Goldens passed a small milestone this week; 1,000+ followers. When I began this blog two years ago this month I envisioned a simple journal of our efforts to create a place of peace for Homeward Bound’s extended family while hoping to inspire a love of rescue. Through the process of chronicling the garden, I have been blessed to be joined by all of you.
You’ve shared in watching the garden grow from vision to reality…
and in the delight of seeing dogs go home. Yesterday, it was Shaggy Bao – a Old English Sheepdog masquerading as a Golden. He came all the way from Taiwan with his amazing two-colored eyes to find his forever home.
Sometimes, we share in sorrow. This week, it was Sarge, who passed unexpectedly and quietly without a hint to us that it was time to say ‘goodbye.’
Despite the sometimes difficult times, there is a tremendous sense of joy and purpose in what is accomplished here. From seeing new arrivals like Amber,
Oliver
and Maggie coaxed into trust,
to creating a place of quiet and contemplation.
Another blogger I follow described a garden as a relationship…between a person and a bed of soil. For me, the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden and Gardens for Goldens has been about a relationship with all of you. And I am better for it.
“The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” ~ John Ruskin
Thank you.
“Gardening is the art that uses flowers and plants as paint, and the soil and sky as canvas.” ~ Elizabeth Murray
The garden looks especially beautiful and welcoming in the fall light.
Though the blooms are fewer, their rich colors pop against a canvas of turning leaves and warm brown grasses.
Ina’s asters have finally arrived, draped over the fence like a bee’s blanket of purple.
Maria, has of course, dressed the garden for fall.
Her holiday displays may not bespeak a memorial garden, but they certainly make a beautiful backdrop for our posing dogs. This is Ella.
Princess and Duke – all new arrivals.
With Maria and Ina both on hand, it was a perfect time to tackle the iris bed.
Peggy and Steve had a good start, but work has called them away. With three of us on scene, we decided to finish the lifting and dividing. From the size of the bulb clumps, it was pretty clear they had been left for years – a first, forgotten effort in the garden.
While Ina and Maria divided, I dug trenches and raised berms in a semi-circle.
We have decided to plant the sunflowers in the center next summer as the Willow Tree has taken their sun. During the other months we will fill with annuals to keep color in the garden year round.
It’s pretty amazing what the three of us can get done in a day when we put our minds (and backs) to it. We went home dirty, tired, but satisfied.
“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” ~ Emile Zola
This weekend, the Homeward Bound Memorial Garden created a brand new memory – our first-ever wedding.
Susan and Frank are volunteers of Homeward Bound. Susan walks dogs, feeds and provides companionship to our sanctuary dogs; Frank is an awesome talent who helps to keep our vehicles running. Susan also sought help for her beloved Stella – a story shared here.
Artistic, and completely unconventional – Susan chose the garden as her venue. There were probably more than a few raised eyebrows over the decision to have a wedding at a rescue, but in the end, I think everyone would agree it was a perfect place and a perfect day.
The garden is peaking, but waited just long enough to play host to the event.
Susan loves fall – so Maria and I arrived early to ensure that fall was on full display. Grapevines and garden flowers draped the arbor;
twig wreaths added a fall touch to the training pavilion where the reception was held…
and the simple bouquets were from the garden.
About 100 invited guests and a couple of special dogs (Susan’s Stella among them) were joined by uninvited guests: frogs and lizards (much to the kids’ delight) –
and the farmer’s combine which chose Saturday to begin the harvest. Thankfully, they stopped working about 90 minutes before the ceremony.
The garden has always been a special place to Susan – she has followed its progress in person and on this blog since nearly the beginning.
I was touched (and terrified) that she would trust her photos to me and Rob. I’ve tried not to share too many personal shots here as she has not seen them yet, but I’ll hope she that she won’t mind my few selections. We were all touched by their decision to request donations to Homeward Bound in lieu of wedding gifts. What a completely unselfish and generous act on behalf of the dogs.
The garden was always meant to be a place for fond remembrances. The love that filled it on Susan and Frank’s special day is a reminder that it is also a place where we create new memories. An unattributed quote: “The garden is a mirror of the heart.” Saturday, the garden mirrored two very devoted hearts. What a joyous day it was.
Congratulations to Susan and Frank with this hope: “The strongest and sweetest songs yet remain to be sung.” – Walt Whitman
“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.
“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.
Saturday, the skies turned dark, thunder clapped, and we were treated to a brief downpour – unseasonable for us this time of year. The garden is loving it.
With the cooler temperatures and extra drink, everything burst forth in bloom.
The light was different and the colors more subdued – but beautiful bathed in warm grey.
Love the sound of these wind chimes in the rustling trees. My idea of church.
I’m really pleased with how these drifts have developed.
Inspired by something I saw in Fine Gardening magazine, and purchased as 3″ plants from Digging Dog Nursery, they have grown to full size in one season and now provide a bridge from Ina’s Cottage and California gardens to Maria’s Herb and St. Francis beds.
I was very pleased to meet this gentleman as well.
His name is Renji and he is a total charmer. Wish he were mine! I suspect he’ll be scooped up quickly.
I heard a story on the radio today. Jerry Saltz, an art critic for New York magazine was talking about Jackson Pollock, the painter. When he made his first famous drip painting, he supposedly turned to his wife and asked: Is this a painting?
That’s how I feel about these. ‘Are these photographs?’ Or simply disasters?
I dunno. Something made me save them from the ‘delete’ folder. Maybe someday, my disasters will be as sought after as Pollocks’ drips. A girl can dream.
The sun will be back tomorrow…and you know where you’ll find me.
Gardens For Goldens 