Joyful Companions: Looking Back at 16 Years of Dogs in the Garden

My main intention with my blog is to encourage and inspire you. To discover beauty. To look for joy. To embrace your creativity.

On my blog index page I describe it like this:

Inspiration, encouragement and a behind-the-scenes look at my studio and garden.

I love connecting with you through my blog. Sharing a bit more about who I am, apart from my art. And hearing your thoughts and feelings in the comments you leave, too. As I feel less and less content on social media, this space (and my newsletter) are becoming ever more important to me.

Knowing how much I love seeing photos of and reading about other peoples’ gardens, this year I want to share a lot more of what’s going on in mine.

Almost two weeks ago I spent my first day working in the garden, cleaning up last year’s remnants (you can read about why I don’t clean up my garden in the autumn in this blog post). As I worked, I realized this was Clara’s first time gardening with me. She loved it, as you can see:

Clara found a large chunk of wood bark mulch that she helped break into smaller pieces for me

I also realized that although this will be Clara’s first year helping me in the garden, (if my math is correct), this will be my 17th year gardening with dog assistants.

My dogs have always been a constant source of joy for me. They’re part of my family and my home would feel empty without at least one.

When I was growing up, I dreamed of having a dog. For two weeks in the summer before I started high school my family tried with a young Siberian Husky named Riker. It didn’t work out, but I never stopped wanting a dog. In the spring of our first year in Cleveland, Matthias and I brought home a husky puppy. Matthias hadn’t grown up with dogs either but, like me, had always wanted one. We lived in a 4th floor apartment and already had two cats. Was it the smartest decision we could have made? Probably not, but we always said it was one of our best decisions. Holden was such a good dog and so smart.

Last October we lost Charlie and then in February we lost Jude. I miss them, but as I trimmed and dug and readied my garden for the growing season, my heart filled with joy at the thought of all the hours gardening with them. Here and in Cleveland.

Later I searched through my photos to find some of my favorites of them and of Holden, my first garden helper.

Holden helping with spring clean-up in my Cleveland garden

Holden was six years old by the time we moved into our first house. What a luxury it was not to have to go up and down four flights of stairs every time he needed to go out! And what a delight for me to have a space to start a garden of my own.

Holden beside a garden bed with the David Austin Rose “Golden Celebration”

The yard was separated into different sections by the garage. Garden rooms. Every year I dug up more of the grass and replaced it with gardens. Flowers. Herbs. Vegetables. Fruits.

Although I don’t miss Cleveland, I miss my garden. And I still miss Holden.

the yellow mark by Holden’s eye is lily pollen

Charlie and Jude became my next garden helpers.

Jude and Charlie lounging in my Cleveland Garden

Sometimes they actually helped with the work!

Charlie helping to dig a new garden bed

But most of the time they just snoozed.

Jude using flowerpots as a pillow

When we moved here they were happy to lend assistance in my new garden.

Jude with his chin on the edge of one of my raised beds here in Wisconsin

Just like in Cleveland, my garden here has been through many transformations.

Jude and Charlie Sleeping between the cinder block raised beds

Charlie and Jude were there for all of them.

Jude and Charlie enjoying the garden last summer

Now Clara has happily taken over.

Clara napping in the grass while I garden

And seems to be just as dedicated to the job.

There’s not too much to see yet in my garden, but I’m hoping to be more vigilant documenting how it progresses through the season and sharing it here with you. Is there anything you’re especially interested in or would like to see or know? I’ll try to work it in.

p.s. Quin was feeling left out. Although he doesn’t come out in the garden with me, he’s a great manager from his perch in the window.

Edit: in July of 2021 Fiona joined our family. She enjoys spending time in the garden and loves looking for strawberries and other yummy bits.

My newest garden dog: Fiona