Re: [gardeners] Saturday in the garden

Alan Zelhart (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 12 Feb 2001 08:22:50 -0700 

Hehehe...that is funny how dogs learn that.  My dog, Chip won't step in my rose beds
either.  If he does by accident, because of an excited moment or whatever, he
immediatly looks at me with that expression, please don't yell at me, I didn't mean
to.  Dogs are such incredible animals, so very smart, I don't think we give them the
credit they deserve so often.

Last week I had to take Chip to the vet.  He had not eaten in 2 days, even when he
tried the smell of the food would make him turn his head away, even though some of
the foods offered were his favorite.  I knew something was wrong.  The vet said he
must have ate something bad and had a touch of colonitis.  She could not find any
parasites.  A wonderful vet, I really like her.  My old vet retired, I hated taking
him to a new vet.  But she was very nice, a beautiful blond from Brazil.  Very good
with the animals.

He's doing much better now, and eating as good as ever.  But it scares me...Chip is
like a child to me, if something happened to him, I would be a wreck.  What
surprised me even more was the support of my boss, when I told him this.  He said we
should be given bereavement days for pets, just like we are when a family member
passess away.  I agreed 100% of course.  Being single, Chip is my child, and his
companion Happy, who passed away 2 years ago was my Daughter.  I'm sorry I'm
rambling...but I just love animal stories, like the ones you tell of Sleepy.  I can
tell by your stories that he is a very important part of your life.  That he is
loved incredibly.  You always mention him, I think that is very special.

Alan        Chandler, Arizona        Sunset Zone: 13

http://members.home.net/gizmoaz/~gizmoaz.htm
Over 145 Rose Bushes Planted! 75 Different varieties! Never a dull moment!!


"Shirley, George" wrote:

> We live and garden in SW Louisiana, about 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico and
> only about 10 miles from a saltwater estuary. Our normal climate is USDA zone
> 9b, last year was closer to zone 10, and this year closer to zone 8. Sleepy
> likes green beans too and she waits for veggies to be picked for her.
> Boysenberries, raspberries, and blueberries are a different story. Finally
> caught her snarfing berries last year. I had been wondering who was getting the
> low growing ones and was blaming the mocking birds. Nope, Miss Sleepy Dawg was
> strolling down the row and sniffing out the very best ripe berries for herself.
> Figured what the heck, she keeps the birds out of them so maybe that's her pay.
> Tried to feed her cauliflower yesterday and she sorta liked it raw so have
> encouraged her to enter the garden and eat the cauliflower. She won't do it of
> course as she knows the raised bed gardens are out of bounds for her. The flower
> beds are too as Miz Anne has raised her voice a few times when Sleepy was in hot
> pursuit of a squirrel.
>
> George, glad to be inside on a dreary day with heavy rains forecast
>
> Chuck Hall wrote:
> >
> > Hi George,
> >
> >     It is always a spiritual lift to listen in to this group.  I normally
> > just "lurk 'n' learn" from the experienced gardeners and cooks here.  Your
> > comments about spring coming to your area is heartwarming.  I have been
> > listening in here for a long time, but I can't remember where you are
> > located.
> >
> >     Here in sunny Iowa, we have our original 18" to 2 feet of snow that came
> > in early Dec. plus regular additions that seem to come quite often.  Our
> > perennials are securely insulated and should come through the winter in
> > great shape.  The deer in this part of the state are being stressed to the
> > max and our shrubs are paying the price.  We have a resident w.t. deer pop.
> > of from 25 to 150 depending on the hunting seasons and the weather.  We have
> > resorted to a baited electric fence around our entire yard so that our
> > flower and veg. gardens can survive.  The single electrified wire is placed
> > 30" above the ground and has kept the deer at bay for over 4 years now.  But
> > this year the snow is over the fence in several places.  The snow also
> > insulates the deer from grounding themselves, so they have the run of the
> > place.  Our 15 year old white cedar shrub row is now transparent as high as
> > the deer can reach and our spruce tree line has a poodle cut.
> >
> >     Your comments about Sleepy's fondness for carrots reminds me of my
> > cockers, Sammy and Boomer.  They sit outside our garden fence when we are
> > working there and beg for green beans.
> >
> >     Sorry to hear about Miz Anne's ankle.  Hope she gets better soon.
> >
> > Chuck Hall
> > Shivering in Iowa (-8 today) and envious of your 'nasty head of cauliflower'