pm2 - yes, even a 'failed' dog from Dog Guides is pretty amazing. The socialization they get during their puppyhood time in a foster home is invaluable - and something you can't replicate with your own dog. The Dog Guide puppies go EVERYWHERE with the foster 'parents' e.g. in stores, restaurants, offices; at all sorts of public events and public places, etc. etc. The foster process is designed to expose them as many new things as possible, as well as give them basic obedience training, so nothing bothers them and they are calm in unfamiliar places. One of Cole's issues is that he is still a bit too excitable and overly friendly (wants to jump up on people!) so he still needs training in that regard. He's still basically a puppy - he'll be 2 years old on the 27th of this month. When he first came he wasn't walking nicely on leash so we used the training collar combination that Dog Guides uses when the dogs are in training - a Halti combined with a martingale (the one with a loop of chain under the throat - not a full chain collar.) The leash gets attached to both collars - instant easy walking with none of the snaky, evasive manoeuvres you often see with dogs on a Halti collar alone. I'd never seen collars used like that until we started volunteering at Dog Guides. Cole now walks nicely (most of the time!) with just the martingale collar. This is what the arrangement looks like: If you're ever having trouble getting a dog to walk nicely on leash, try this arrangement! Dog Guides breeds their own dogs - although some are donated by breeders too. Cole is a miniature poodle although I think they may crossbreed the different sizes of poodles as there are some standards that are smaller than normal and some minatures that are larger than usual. They use a smaller one than Cole for a lot of HED but I think they're a bit bigger than 'toy' size so may be a cross with a miniature (?) If you love dogs, it's a fabulous place to volunteer! As for accomodating the dogs in the garden.... The main thing is to accomodate their need to patrol territory and explore and play so they aren't bored when outside! The path network in the backyard has paths along the side fences and near the back fence. Because of the 'wet corner' the back path does not follow the back fence and there is a short (6") iron fence (just a cheapie ornamental thing) along the edge of the 'wet corner' bed to keep them out of the mud in the spring - they recognize it as a barrier and stay out. On the NW side of the back fence there is a small bank against the fence so the path runs at the base of the bank and the plantings are tough enough there so they aren't damanged when the dogs visit with the neighbours' two through the fence... :-) traffic patterns considered in layout: neater version of layout: Callie doesn't dig - but Cole has started to excavate one place just off the patio recently! So we need to train him not to do that! Callie's breed does indeed include Cairn terriers in the mix - see link.... Noodle sounds sweet - pictures...? Do you still make her cookies? Cole eats commercial dog food - and we make the dog cookies in small training-treat size pieces to use when working on training (which is constant at his age....) thyme - we were posting at the same time.... thank you - and back at you re the gardens - I always enjoy seeing yours (especially the fall color pictures which have inspired me to pay more attention to that here....) This post was edited by woodyoak on Thu, Aug 8, 13 at 17:44

PankajT: So where's your new thread? I think it would be very useful for a lot of people who may hesitate to post, and there's always something new to learn for the more experienced gardeners. As Steve said, you can go to the main New England Gardening page and look at the very top for a link to post a message. Or you can go to the same page and scroll all the way to the bottom past a lot of white space and get to a box that works the same. You don't even have to retype your message since you've already posted. You can use the edit post feature and copy what you wrote here, and then paste that in the new thread. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Back to the blooming thread - I'm getting dizzy with all the beautiful pictures and the succession of new flowers appearing every day! Each garden seems to be on a different schedule, and so is mine. My first daylilies! Hemerocallis 'Orangeman' I just bought a bunch of these on sale this spring from Old House Gardens, and wasn't expecting anything this year (little bitty plants). One of them is blooming already, to my amazement. I love spider-type daylilies. Another daylily, 'Black Eyed Stella', just started also: The first foxgloves/digitalis have started. These planted themselves a few years ago by the rugosa roses and peonies and they match them perfectly, so I've encouraged them to stay. Pink: And white: Viburnum 'Summer Snowflake" is taking off now, while the doublefile viburnum is fading away. The doublefile blossoms are decorating the ground now. The little Calamintha grandiflora is quietly blooming. Along with the little Sedum kamtschaticum sitting next to the cotoneasters and a yucca. Two of my favorite irises: 'Rustler' and 'Beverly Sills' Claire

I have been gone for almost two weeks, and much has changed in the yard, thankfully. One of my favorite azaleas is blooming, this view which looks upwards into it. I like for its luminous white-pink blooms and because you can see the topmost blooms from the back deck. These tiarellas were rescued from near extinction last year, and they grew from extremely small starts to what you see below. I think I'm going to add some more for a mass planting. And, I LOVE the cobalt blue of the Brunnera. I will definitely turn that into a mass planting. These were abused by the plowman, and still look good this year. I thought they were goners. Just wish the variegated leaf forms would grow from seed. I bought four Percy Wiseman Rhododendron this year. I LOVE these colors. The buds are bright pink, but the flowers are light pink tinged with yellow. The three colors simultaneously on the plant are just gorgeous. And, ending with a very pleasant surprise. I ordered roughly 15 bare-root peonies last year in the fall from GH Wild. I planted them in rich well-prepared soil, and nearly all of them have buds this year. Did NOT expect that. It's going to be exciting! Below is one with two big fat buds. As a side note, I am realizing that these spring-blooming trees and shrubs are a good color bridge between bulbs and my "normal" herbaceous perennial season. The new azaleas may be off their true bloom time since they were just purchased and I'm assuming are under more of a greenhouse/grower timeline. But, I'm hoping next year they are blooming during this needed "bridge" time.

Claire, I tried using a similar system over winter to try to grow a Camelia, but it didn't help. All the leaves around the foliage all winter, managed to produce a fungal problem and it died the next year anyway. [g]. I don't think I have another marginally hardy plant. I have about 4 varieties of Hydrangea and all are supposed to be hardy here in zone 6 but some years I get few blooms from the mopheads, even those that bloom on new wood. I added the 'Little Lime' paniculata last year and I love them. Lots of blooms dependably. I think I prefer the white blooms anyway. I love the purple or the pink, but I've decided I'm not a big blue fan. [g] I'm planning to replace some of my mopheads with more of the paniculatas. If I had enough sun, I'd grow a Crape Myrtle and if I had one I'd definitely use winter protection. I'm surprised you have to cover a Euonymous, I thought they were indestructible and hardy and you are warmer than I am. I've seen something variegated for sale at Lowe's here. Babs, I also hate to buy disposable plants. About the only one I am usually a sucker for are the Hyacinths in late winter. I love the fragrance and I have added them to the garden every time I am finished with them and have gotten a lot of Hyacinths that way. I wonder if I couldn't keep the cyclamen as a houseplant? Haven't tried it before. Or add them to containers in the summer outdoors, if I can keep it alive that long. I normally don't start putting up Christmas decorations yet, but, this year, my daughter gave me the idea. She's going to be away after Christmas so she wanted to get her decorations in early because she won't have that after Christmas time enjoying them. And since we just finished painting the LR/DR, there was the blank top of the DR hutch and one thing led to another...lol. We draw the line at putting up the Christmas tree this early. [g] And it's the darn Hallmark Channel's fault. They run Christmas movies non stop from Halloween on, and I caught a couple and it just got me in the spirit I guess. I just hope I won't be sick of them by Christmas. :-)