Tom and his rescued dogs form a welcome committee for any visitor to his garden.

Dogs in the Garden

One of my neighbors, as the bees fly, has the most charming garden. Tom is now retired so he works "harder" than he did when he was employed, he likes to remind me whenever he checks on my transition into retirement.

Tom also took one of my beekeeping classes and regularly volunteers at our bee club meetings. Of all of the students I have met so far, Tom has the keenest interest in the impact bees have on a garden. Understandably so since his garden is already quite pretty.

When he texted me his gourds have "gone wild." I had to stop by for a look. After asking if this was a good time, I was met at the gate by Tom's retinue of rescued dogs, quite the posse of rescued Yorkies and one dachshund who takes his guard dog duties very seriously.

Once I was sniff-approved for entrance, we walked - well, more like meandered - the long way around the garden to get to the vegetable section to see the gourds.

Tom's gourds are growing next to his nearby bee garden.

Sure enough, the gourds had exploded, going from teeny tiny last week to fully-grown. Not sure bees had anything to say about that quick growth but they are pretty hanging from the cattle panel he uses as an arbor. You bet I'm taking that idea into my garden!

Back in the shady garden, we found one of the welcome committee busy at work on mole patrol.

"That was a beautiful garden spot this spring," Tom said, as I mentioned that columbines used to grow there.

"I won't have to worry about being attacked by moles now," Tom said as he nonchalantly walked around the now re-landscaped area. Reminded me of the little hand-embroidered dog in garden dish towels we added last year.