Thursday, October 28, 2010

Sans Flora: Fauna

I used to have a garden.

It was small, but it was marvelous. I used to grow pineapple sage and five kinds of rosemary. I used to haul armfuls of French lavender into the kitchen, dropping little purple blossoms on the floor along the way like a flower girl in a Pagan wedding. I used to put geranium cuttings in an old, earthenware vase and place it on the kitchen counter. Then, after a week or two, I'd plant them in the garden.

I used to feel somewhat smug about my white roses.

I used to open the Burpee catalog and actually consider purchasing heirloom moonflower seedlings. I used go to the Huntington Garden sales, browse the abundant selection along the tree-lined path with other smiling plant lovers in straw hats, feeling just like a subject in Seurat painting. Later, lovingly, I would place local succulents into Mexican clay pots, and top them with a few river rocks.

I used to point out to visiting friends that I had monkey grass in the flower beds, but not just any monkey grass, I had "black dragon" monkey grass, and I even knew its official name. (Ophiopogon planiscapus Arabicus.) Okay, so the black monkey grass was planted by the previous homeowner but it was otherworldly cool, and it was now mine and I had managed not to kill it even after several years in the house with a high needs preschooler who never napped.

Well, it's been a busy year and something just had to give. Now, someone else has taken over the gardening. I've got to hand it to her ... she's great with the digging part of it. There's no need for that Smith & Hawken rototiller with Misty around. And, although misguided, she enriches the garden daily, even though she seems to think the brick patio is what needs fertilizing.

11 comments:

Judy Williams said...

AWWW, Misty!!! What a sweet girl. What a surprise to see her this morning!!! This is a great photo of her, Laurie. You know me. You just can't go wrong with a black and white of a doggy or kitty. This made me smile.

Jean Spitzer said...

Misty's doing great. And succulents, at least, survive neglect just fine. Maybe it's time to specialize.

dbdubya said...

A garden? Or Misty? That's an easy choice. You can always walk up the street and buy whatever fresh herbs and apices you need, and get your flowers at the Farmer's Market. No garden can replace the joy that comes with cohabitating with a dog.

It's nice to meet Misty.

Laurie Allee said...

Misty and Molly are sisters and we've had them for ten years. Molly would try to dig, but Misty always knew better than to mess with my plants. Until I got too busy to keep close enough eye on her back yard shenanigans and now she is shameless! Plus, I think she is trying to dig up all the acorns planted by all the squirrels around here. Molly, is not quite so smart. She tries to eat rocks.

I agree though, DB. If given the choice -- always choose the animals!

Laurie Allee said...

For those of us who love Hollywood magic, there's a great story trending on Twitter right now. Scroll back to my Rialto Seance post and see the link in my update.

Trish said...

lol...apparently, Misty doesn't like your "decorating" of the yard and is trying to fix it!

we know many dogs who keep eating things (like rocks) when they really know better. One friend has an xray of his golden with 4, count 'em, 4 rocks in her stomach!

and fertilizing the brick is normal...she wouldn't want to put it someplace she would be digging, right? and besides, she's SURE you enjoy the "presents"!

San Diego Farmgirl said...

I used to have a garden, too. Now the only things thriving in San Diego Farmgirl's yard are gophers and dogs. The dogs sure do enjoy digging for the gophers, though. It's Caddy Shack, ankle-turning fun!

TheChieftess said...

Sweet pup, sweet story!!! Love the line "like a flower girl in a Pagan wedding"!!!

Philwebservices said...

keep on posting..

Pasadena Adjacent said...

may I suggest bamboo

Petrea Burchard said...

Ditto dbdubya! I love Misty.