No one said it was going to be easy.
The truth is, it is very difficult to keep a good garden in a yard full of dogs. Yet, you want to have some flowers and pops of color to enjoy, right?
This week's blog circle theme is "blooms." I thought it might be helpful to write a bit about how we, as a seven (7) dog family, manage to grow relatively good, scenic gardens.
Rule of Thumb
Besides the proverbial "green" thumb, there is a rule of thumb to follow when gardening with dogs: KEEP TOXIC PLANTS OUT OF THE DOG YARD! What are considered toxic plants for dog purposes? THIS ARTICLE will give you a great rundown of plants you need to be concerned with that fall into the category of dog-toxic.
The truth is, it is very difficult to keep a good garden in a yard full of dogs. Yet, you want to have some flowers and pops of color to enjoy, right?
This week's blog circle theme is "blooms." I thought it might be helpful to write a bit about how we, as a seven (7) dog family, manage to grow relatively good, scenic gardens.
Rule of Thumb
Besides the proverbial "green" thumb, there is a rule of thumb to follow when gardening with dogs: KEEP TOXIC PLANTS OUT OF THE DOG YARD! What are considered toxic plants for dog purposes? THIS ARTICLE will give you a great rundown of plants you need to be concerned with that fall into the category of dog-toxic.
Larkspur (delphinium) species are not only toxic to dogs, but also to humans. So you won't find this flowering inside our fenced-in yard.
Because I love Larkspur, it is, instead, potted in a ceramic, terracotta planter on the deck of my studio.
I am, in fact, partial to terracotta and unique pots for just this reason: I plant stuff out of my main yard (frequented by our dogs), but within visual range of the places we use to lounge in.
Does that mean there are no plants in the dog yard?
Well, no.
There are in fact quite a number of flowering plants within the confines of the dog yard.
They are all planted in pots.
However, there is another hard and fast rule that I have learned over years of gardening with dogs, that never fails, and doesn't require we buy enormous amounts of temporary fencing, or construct DIY contraptions to keep our dogs away from the blooms.
Because I love Larkspur, it is, instead, potted in a ceramic, terracotta planter on the deck of my studio.
I am, in fact, partial to terracotta and unique pots for just this reason: I plant stuff out of my main yard (frequented by our dogs), but within visual range of the places we use to lounge in.
Does that mean there are no plants in the dog yard?
Well, no.
There are in fact quite a number of flowering plants within the confines of the dog yard.
They are all planted in pots.
However, there is another hard and fast rule that I have learned over years of gardening with dogs, that never fails, and doesn't require we buy enormous amounts of temporary fencing, or construct DIY contraptions to keep our dogs away from the blooms.
Use Containers and Place Them Off the Ground
All of the potted plants in our yard are placed on tables or plant stands.
I try to find fun iron or metal tables at yard sales or gardening outlets to use in the dog yard.
I also purchase cheap, dollar store solar lights, and use torch stands to hold them in various places in the yard, or place them directly into the pots with the plants. This way, I have solar lighting for summer evenings, and the dogs can't get at them for a chew fest.
All of the potted plants in our yard are placed on tables or plant stands.
I try to find fun iron or metal tables at yard sales or gardening outlets to use in the dog yard.
I also purchase cheap, dollar store solar lights, and use torch stands to hold them in various places in the yard, or place them directly into the pots with the plants. This way, I have solar lighting for summer evenings, and the dogs can't get at them for a chew fest.
Train Your Dogs To Leave the Containers Alone
A key ingredient to success in using these methods, is to train your dog(s) early to leave the plants and containers alone.
We use the "leave it" command with our crew. This is taught relatively early in their dog life here, and most of them will immediately abandon any ideas they might have had on making flowers chew toys.
Even though our dog, Talley, is deaf, we have "leave it" and "drop it" hand signals for her, and she knows exactly what they mean.
A key ingredient to success in using these methods, is to train your dog(s) early to leave the plants and containers alone.
We use the "leave it" command with our crew. This is taught relatively early in their dog life here, and most of them will immediately abandon any ideas they might have had on making flowers chew toys.
Even though our dog, Talley, is deaf, we have "leave it" and "drop it" hand signals for her, and she knows exactly what they mean.
Talley in front of the hydrangeas on our front walkway.
The hydrangea bushes are not planted in our dog yard. They adorn both sides of our walkway leading to the front door.
Plan Ahead for Special Circumstances
Two years ago we became an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation through Monarch Watch. As such, we grow common milkweed as part of our non-dog yard garden, but along the fence that surrounds that portion of our property. Because the leaves can grown through the chain link, we had to come up with a way to keep the plants on their side ONLY, so our dogs could not get to the leaves. There can be a toxicity build up from milkweed, with the least symptoms involving severe stomach and digestive distress.
Plan Ahead for Special Circumstances
Two years ago we became an official Monarch Butterfly Waystation through Monarch Watch. As such, we grow common milkweed as part of our non-dog yard garden, but along the fence that surrounds that portion of our property. Because the leaves can grown through the chain link, we had to come up with a way to keep the plants on their side ONLY, so our dogs could not get to the leaves. There can be a toxicity build up from milkweed, with the least symptoms involving severe stomach and digestive distress.
In the photo above, you can see the common milkweed growing to the left of our cone flowers. In this area of the garden, the milkweed does not touch the dog fence.
Where it does, we have installed black netting that blends in with the fence and is hardly noticeable. The netting keeps the leaves on their own side, as well as the daylilies, so we have no problems with ingestion by dogs.
Our setters are butterfly fanatics (butterflies are FASTER than setters, and can always get away), and we get to see the monarchs spend time laying their eggs among the plants.
Where it does, we have installed black netting that blends in with the fence and is hardly noticeable. The netting keeps the leaves on their own side, as well as the daylilies, so we have no problems with ingestion by dogs.
Our setters are butterfly fanatics (butterflies are FASTER than setters, and can always get away), and we get to see the monarchs spend time laying their eggs among the plants.
Female monarch butterfly laying eggs on common milkweed.
If we find any monarch caterpillars, we have all the equipment to house them safely until their transformation occurs, and we then send them on their way.
Flowery Places Make Good Photograph Spaces
My studio is directly adjacent to, but outside of, our fenced yard. There are plenty of distressed outdoor furniture spots, which make great places to house some blooms (like these balloon flowers below), as well as snap a photo or two.
Flowery Places Make Good Photograph Spaces
My studio is directly adjacent to, but outside of, our fenced yard. There are plenty of distressed outdoor furniture spots, which make great places to house some blooms (like these balloon flowers below), as well as snap a photo or two.
These balloon flowers are one of my favorites. They bloom all summer and are such a vibrant purple.
When the flower bud first appears, it looks like an inflatable balloon, then pops into this lovely, star-like plant.
Look in the pot. Can you see where I have hidden the solar light?
Talley is also a big fan of the fire pit bench in front of the bee garden.
When the flower bud first appears, it looks like an inflatable balloon, then pops into this lovely, star-like plant.
Look in the pot. Can you see where I have hidden the solar light?
Talley is also a big fan of the fire pit bench in front of the bee garden.
We are overrun with bee balm this year, and some of it is taller than I am, but the bees are happy.
I took a different slant with this week's theme, and I hope it might help you to think or rethink your flower gardens. I do take quite a number of client pet photos in and among the flowers at various locations here in the Endless Mountains, as well as in my own backyard and studio gardens.
I think you are going to see a lot of lovely photos of pets among the blooms in this week's circle of professional pet photographers. Take a peek, starting with BARKography by Kim Hollis photographing dogs in beautiful sunflowers fields near Charlotte NC.
Enjoy this beautiful summer weekend however you can! I cut some fresh blooms to brighten our table!
I took a different slant with this week's theme, and I hope it might help you to think or rethink your flower gardens. I do take quite a number of client pet photos in and among the flowers at various locations here in the Endless Mountains, as well as in my own backyard and studio gardens.
I think you are going to see a lot of lovely photos of pets among the blooms in this week's circle of professional pet photographers. Take a peek, starting with BARKography by Kim Hollis photographing dogs in beautiful sunflowers fields near Charlotte NC.
Enjoy this beautiful summer weekend however you can! I cut some fresh blooms to brighten our table!
RSS Feed