Nature Photography – Page 8 – Gardens For Goldens

Allerton Garden: Kauai

Protected by the great wealth and social standing he was born into, Robert Allerton lived a sheltered, but secret life. When public sentiment threatened his future, he and his adopted “son” and lifelong companion, John Gregg Allerton, found peace, privacy, and sanctuary on Kauai. In 1937, he purchased an 86-acre valley complete with a pristine beach for $50,000.

Together they built a magnificent garden which they maintained until their deaths and left in trust.

In the early 1990’s, management was assumed by the National Tropical Botanical Garden – with the garden named after its founding fathers.

There are only three rules: Replace whatever is lost with more of the same.

Leave the garden un-manicured, as nature intended.

And let the garden age gracefully, including the statues and art that were carefully placed here.

The result is a stunning, romantic oasis – full of secret rooms and surprises.

Where art and nature live happily together.

The gift they left us all can make you rethink your notion of gardens…

And what it means to leave a living legacy.

The Allerton Garden; part of the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Kauai.

A gift.

Wordless Wednesday: Splish Splash Hummingbird

Wordless Wednesday: California Rain

Promises Kept

It wasn’t a lot … but it was something … and in our current state of drought, we are grateful for anything.

Just after all the dogs were walked,

dark skies turned to a quick downpour –

with the promise of more on Tuesday. Every drop and every cool day extends our hope for the garden (which looks lush and full in spring) to survive another California summer.

“We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.” ~ Thomas Fuller

Sixty five roses fed on Saturday before the rain … perfect timing.

And, five of our longer-term residents found their way home this week, including two pairs that we promised to keep together: Lucky … who I wrote about in January –

Dexter and Pogo …

And handsome Finnegan and Seamus.

Promise made. Promise kept.
“All that we behold is full of blessings.” ~ William Wordsworth

Do you suppose Saint Francis can request water on behalf of the dogs’ well-being as well as the garden?

Wherever Faith Finds Us

I find my faith in nature…

the skies, woods, meadows and garden are my cathedral.

I place my faith in something that has no name. All I know is that it greater than all of us.

I try to live my life by one rule: treat others as you hope to be treated.

“Make yourself necessary to somebody. Do not make life hard to any.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spring is a time of rebirth, celebration and remembrance for people of many faiths.

Regardless of which faith guides you, my hope for all during this special time is to find beauty,

joy,

understanding,

acceptance,

and awe…

that the world might be a better place for all.

Wordless Wednesday: Of Tails

Swallowtail:

Puppy tails:

Symphony of Spring

As the season starts to turn, it seems to happen at a snail’s pace…literally.

It’s like the orchestra tuning to find that perfect pitch.

Things seems to unfold in starts and fits, and we keep saying…”just wait.”

And then, after an almost unbearable pause…the symphony begins.

Every tree is dressed in leaves and blossoms,

and every sleepy plant and creature awakens.

When I am away during the week, I miss the Memorial Garden. This weekend, the return took my breath away.

The earth is alive;

the creatures so busy;

and the gardeners so hardworking –

except for Yule, who just keeps us company.

“It was such a pleasure to sink one’s hands into the warm earth, to feel at one’s fingertips the possibilities of the new season.” ~ Kate Morton, The Forgotten Garden

Spring brings the dogs out in force,

and from their stories, we have learned this: symphonies have more than one movement –

and you can bury a lot of troubles by digging in the dirt.

Quick Quiz

Q: Why did the turkeys cross the road?

A: To stalk the obnoxious photographer on the other side.

Wordless Wednesday: Birds of a Feather

Colored Shapes of Spring

“Spring comes: the flowers learn their colored shapes.” ~ Maria Konopnicka

The colored shapes of the spring flowers in the WPA Garden in Sacramento are so special…I had to share some here.

With Good Company

“A single leaf working alone provides no shade.” ~ Chuck Page

It was a great weekend at the rescue and in the Memorial Garden where I was joined by Maria, Anna, Peggy and Steve. It’s unusual for so many of us to gather at once. With a moderate storm in the Sierras above us, the skies looked ominous.

Steve assured us that it would not rain. He lied. But before the brief shower sent us scurrying for cover, we managed to get a lot done. Steve, Maria and Anna muscled the last of our weed tree stumps out of the ground.

The hideous black plastic bucket that covered the stump for months soon held the evidence of its permanent demise.

Anna’s mom, Lynn, donated nine bags of oriental lilies. We thought we were getting nine bulbs!

Peggy set to work planting them. Their fragrance will soon fill the air.

Anna is a weeding machine. A woman with a mission, she is systematically eliminating every last trace of crab grass –

while Rob has been busy rehabbing the real grass.

We’re blessed that so many young people want to support our mission of rescue. We had a full crew of youth volunteers this weekend.

This is Sydney with Woody;

and new walker, Sierra, with Sequoia.

Another of our hunting dogs was adopted. Let’s just say that some “going home” photos are easier to capture than others!

Remi was SO excited to be with his new little brother, Parker! No dogs were injured in the making of these photos. They loved each other at first sight.

“No road is long with good company.” ~ Turkish Proverb

The Birds

Our Sacramento Valley is a hub of bird activity in the winter. Tens of thousands of birds come a calling, traveling on a super-highway called the Pacific Flyway. It is a major north-south route for migratory birds extending from Alaska to Patagonia. The Sacramento Valley is a key rest stop along the way, or even a winter home for some – where birds gather by the thousands.

According to the Audubon Society, you will find about 250 species of birds in the Sacramento area alone. Expand your search east to the Sierra foothills & mountains, south to the San Joaquin River delta, and west to the Pacific Ocean and that increases to about 400 species.

Some pass through…and some find it very cozy to stay on in our nearby parks where they are very well fed.

Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue is surrounded by rice fields…a perfect landing spots for birds who flock together, including these beautiful snow geese.

Unfortunately, they are perfect sitting ducks for hunters as well. Throughout January, shotgun pops rang out and the birds took to the skies by the hundreds.

This past weekend marked the end of hunting season. The birds could not be happier.

Now that the skies are safe, you’ll find geese-covered fields putting a welcome mat out for their friends –

and even cohabitating with cows.

The worldwide Great Backyard Bird Count runs February 13-16. Thanks to my friend, Rob for capturing this Alfred Hitchcock moment. Anyone want to take a guess on this count?