Sunday Snapshot: Sleepyhead

Sleepyhead

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Sunday Snapshot: Macy

Macy

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Another Summer in the Garden

In spite of a paucity of attention from the head gardener this spring, the garden is looking beautiful. The late June garden is dominated by the Giant Fleeceflower (Persicaria polymorpha). This is its third year, and it has now achieved impressive dimensions. It’s over 6 feet tall and about the same wide. The white plumes are at their most eye-catching in the morning and the evening, when backlit by the low sun. Persicaria polymorpha is well-behaved, not given to sprawling onto its neighbours nor intent on invading garden spaces farther afield. If you have enough space, it is highly recommended.

This spring, I dug out an additional couple of feet around one edge of the persicaria bed in order to improve the flow of the pathway sight line. Railguy has been very helpful in other garden expansion work and was primarily responsible for clearing out a section of overgrown shade garden and installing a pathway.

The garden angel looks quite at home in her new location. She holds a shallow dish where insects can find water without risk of drowning.

Railguy has also been working on redefining and clearing out the overgrown east border garden. This weekend, the corgis were visiting, and Remy took an active interest in the digging process. He attempts to catch each clod as it is tossed out of the garden.

Pookie takes the sensible position that gardens should be restful places where one can refresh one’s soul.

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Sunday Snapshot: Pookie

Pookie

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Sunday Snapshot: Fall Corgis

Pookie and Remy

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A Royal Visitor

This weekend, we had a visit from a Royal. Well, not a Royal so much as a Royal-Lookalike, a sable corgi who looks very much like the pups favoured by Queen Elizabeth. She arrived with grandog Remy and Ponygirl, with whom she is currently residing on a trial basis for a week. Remy is a corgi too, of course, but his coat is the less familiar dark variation.

Her name is Pookie, but really, Princess would be more in keeping with her dignified demeanour. For the past four years, Pookie has lived a restful urban life. Unfortunately, it has been a bit toooo restful, downright sedentary in fact, and her figure has suffered as a result. Her owners have been unable to offer her sufficient exercise and are hoping to find a place for her where she can participate in a more active lifestyle. Meanwhile, Ponygirl has been worried that Remy is lonely when left alone during working hours and is hoping to find a good companion for him.

Pookie has displayed a very even-tempered nature and has adjusted well to this sudden change in her fortunes. She seemed to enjoy the opportunity to gambol in the country air, although keeping up with the very fit Remy was a challenge that quickly left her panting for breath.

Nor did she know quite what to make of Remy’s passion for swimming. She politely dipped her toes in the pond, but was just not interested in the Full Dip, and meandered up and down the shore as Remy retrieved sticks.

Those giant four-legged beasties came as quite a surprise too, but she bravely followed Remy along the fence to get a closer look. It remains to be seen whether she will become a full-fledged member of the menagerie, but at the very least she will have enjoyed an interesting and eye-opening fitness vacation with her country cousin.

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Puppysitting

This week, we had Ponygirl’s pup, Remington, stay for an overnight visit while his owner was out of town. The cats take a very dim view of any canine presence in the house and disappear at the first sign of a doggy intruder. Mostly, they hang out in some deep, dark corner of the basement until the house is again dog-free. That is, with the exception of Buddy, who is bold as brass. Very little puts him off. He arrived from we know not where one day and decided to stay. His period of roughing it on his own has left him confident of his ability to handle all comers, even dogs. Indeed, he will even play with the foreigners, so long as they know their place and keep to it.

Remy is about 6 months old and very well behaved. He followed me around on my rounds, and watched while I did some gardening. He tried to be helpful, digging a hole or two, and ripping a plastic pot to shreds, but was discouraged in his efforts by the gardener! He approved of the birdbath that I set out in a patch of hostas. It’s just his height, perfect for someone a foot tall! In fact, I purchased it originally so that raccoons could get a drink in the summer without knocking my taller birdbath over and it has worked well for that purpose.

After Remy left with Ponygirl, and quiet overtook the house, the cats slowly began to reappear and take up their usual places, relieved that life had returned to normal.

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Sunday Snapshot: Jack and Remmie at Play

Remmie and Jack

Let's Play!

Nice to Meet You

Tag, you're it!

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Welcome, Remington!

We are welcoming another doggie to the family circle. The newest member of our furry extended family is a 4 month old puppy named Remington, who has joined Ponygirl’s household. We went up and visited both of them on Saturday.

What a handsome young fellow this tri-coloured Welsh Corgi is! He has been very well behaved and is settling into his new home nicely. Birdgirl was visiting this weekend and enjoyed meeting the puppy too.

Remy has been getting to know the two cats, who weren’t too entertained by his arrival. Ponygirl took him out to the barn to meet the horses, too. Poor Remy hardly knew what to make of these giants! He knows for certain that he loves walking with Ponygirl, though, and come the summer, Ponygirl is looking forward to having a jogging partner.

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