Earlier today, something black and fast caught my eye from my upstairs window.
It was my Scottish Terrier, Cosmo, hurrying as fast as short legs could carry her. Trotting with purpose, as if on a mission, Cosmo was heading toward her favorite garden spot. I don’t normally keep close tabs on my garden loving dog, but it is spring and I’ve plenty of garden chores to get through without any extras from Ms. Cosmo.
That Scottie of mine digs holes where I don’t want them. She’s severed every one of my drip irrigation lines in the last three months — most were completely ripped out. And in spite of my close watch, Cosmo gnawed quite a few edges off my new back porch steps.
But Cosmo’s specialty is thinning out garden plants. Last year, I caught her eating my Spilanthes, commonly called the Toothache Plant. Another one of her forays left several giant Cosmos and Cleome dead — these showy flowers stand four to five feet tall, but that didn’t deter Ms. Cosmo, who chopped them off at their ankles. Poor little flower victims didn’t know what hit them.
Once Cosmo harvests a plant, she works more like garbage disposal than composter — which would be fine, if her definition of plant debris was the same as mine. I don’t mind Cosmo pruning back last season’s perennial growth — or pulling up the dead annuals by their roots — but Lordy, that girl hasn’t figured out one from the other. And really — I ask — is it necessary to chew holes in my ‘invisible’ fence wire that keeps my poodle garden stampedes in check? If I didn’t know better, I might wonder if Cosmo was in cahoots with the poodles.
Cosmo’s favorite spot in the garden lies behind the garden shed at the back of our small city lot. In the summer, it offers a cool drink of shade, something that comes in handy for a little dog with coal-black fur. In the winter, it offers shelter from the cold north wind, a good place to carry out her terrorist activities, chewing to heart’s and jaw’s content without fear of being disturbed.
While Cosmo is out ‘tending’ the back gardens, I’ve been slaving in the front, giving a hundred head of Lirope or Monkey Grass a nice spring ‘haircut.’ The cold winter dulled their ‘heads’ to an olive-green full of dry split ends. Though some gardeners use lawn mowers and weed trimmers to groom their ‘Monkey Grass,’ I prefer to cut each one by hand with my pruners, to prevent the weed trimmer from injuring the tree bark. I could use Cosmo’s help if she were willing. But when in the front, Cosmo has a tendency to visit with her favorite neighbor — Jessie the cat. If neighborhood gossip is right, Jessie doesn’t like Cosmo’s visits.
Working outside this time of the year does bring plenty of visits with the neighbors. Folks are always walking by our house since we live near to Mesta Park — even the ones I don’t know call out a greeting. Then, my next-door neighbor is always interested in what I’m doing in my garden. After a few minutes of questions, I’m usually left to my task with some final word of encouragement, like — “Looking good.”
I know they’re talking about the garden rather than me, since I never look good when working in the garden. But now Cosmo — that girl always looks good — even when she’s being a very naughty Scottie — which may help explain why I keep her on the gardening payroll.
I just posted about gardening – or more accurately- weeding today. Any suggestions for a newbie gardener? I lost a lot of plants this winter and am wondering if I should rio them
out and start over or wait to see if they come back. I’d appreciate your thoughts.
“Looking good” ~ the universal comment of the sidewalk superintendent. I hear it all the time. I think it can be translated in a variety of ways. For example: “Well, I’ve stood around here watching you work and hate to tell you I’m going up to sit by the pool and have a Campari and soda while you keep sweating, but hey! That’s life!” 🙂
People do like to watch and chat and question, though. And I like it. It helps to pass the time, and I don’t mind sharing my knowledge with others. What I had to learn was how to politely send them on their way or end the conversation when that needs to happen. Laying on the varnish takes concentration, so I just say, ok. You can watch, but I can’t talk 😉
Just out of curiosity, is Cosmos such a digger because she’s a terrier? I’ve known a couple of folks with Jack Russells, and those dogs just won’t stop the hunt for “whatever” might be buried or hiding in that dirt!
Jennifer,
I’m glad you stopped by and left a note.
I dropped by your blog to see where you lived — and like Mikey in the that old Life Cereal commercial — which was popular way before your time — “I liked it!” Your blog is lovely…
I use to live in Lake Jackson (Zone 9A), where everything planted was perennial, except during a blue moon winter. If you planted perennials, they will come back — just trim to remove any dead foliage. And I offer the same suggestion for your annuals — I’ve had Begonias come back from an unexpected freeze.
I remove weeds the old fashion way — one weed at a time. I endeavor to weed early, before the weeds flower and send out seed heads.
I invite you to visit with your local County Extension Office for more specific answers to your questions — this group of experts will identify plants for you and sometimes, depending upon the season, even pay house calls.
The blog world is full of experts — in spite of being a new Master Gardener, I don’t consider myself one. But I do love getting my hands dirty — and I have found gardeners to be the most generous sort of people, sharing both knowledge and time.
Pay a visit to Dee — Red Dirt Ramblings — you’ll find her on my Blogroll. Dee writes for gardening publications and has quite an extensive blogroll of gardeners across the country. I bet she has a gardening friend near you.
I noticed from my brief visit that you love books as well as I. Books are a good starting point — I highly recommend Barbara Damrosch’s The Garden Primer — it’s simply the best gardening book I’ve ever purchased — it’s short on pretty photos but long on helpful tips.
Hope this helps.
Janell
Linda,
You do make me laugh — “sidewalk superintendents” indeed. So many people rather supervise than get their own hands dirty — but I prefer the latter and always have.
Even though I’m on my third Scottie, I profess to be no expert on the breed. But my friend, who breeds and shows Scotties, and has been my source for all three Scots, has told me that these little dogs were bred by Scottish farmers to ‘go to ground’ to eliminate vermin, including badgers.
Cosmo, who enjoys getting her paws dirty, is not at all the supervisor type! Of course, she doesn’t take too well to being supervised either…
Janell
Janell –
Thank you so very much – for the compliment and the wonderful information.
My mom and dad were never gardeners, but I enjoyed planting last year and really want to have a nice yard. It’s just difficult to know where to start, so your suggestions are most welcome.
I will definitely check out Red Dirt Ramblings, but I have to say – from what I see of your garden, it looks lovely. Thanks again.
jenn
Jenn,
My parents didn’t garden either — oh, Mom would occasionally set out some bedding plants then forget to water them. But my mother was more interested in the planting then the tending.
Thank you for thinking my garden lovely. I am ready for those late spring Hollyhocks and Irises and Black-eyed Susans and Coneflowers to show their faces. I am so ready, though I do have a few daffodils to bridge the time gap.
Good luck, Jenn. I know you will enjoy Dee’s blog — and looking over her gardening blogroll.
Janell