Blog by Michelle Schlegel
We all have our garden companions, or at least I hope so. My dog Wally, an Akbash, is an amazing protector from dangerous predators to both humans and smaller animals. He lies nearby and watches out, even though some of the cats harass him (in playful ways). But Boomer loves to pester Wally. He rubs all over Wally’s legs until Wally sniffs him and then WHAM! Boomer then turns around and whacks poor Wally in the nose.
As I move from one area to another, weeding and planting, the menagerie seems to follow. There is lots of climbing of trees and other structures, even getting on the roof of the house! They are entertaining. Boomer is the most fun, one minute he is on the roof, the next, he is watching frogs at the pond, or on a near-daily inspection of my kitchen island! He is constantly into things. A few months ago, he ran up from the barn with a small King snake in his mouth. We managed to save it and release it back to safety, where it could hunt for more mice. I was just out in my greenhouse today, and Boomer got up on a nearby shelf and tore off 6 strands from my String of Dolphins plant. I guess it was just too enticing the way they were just hanging there… teasing him. He tore it up…because… it was there! He has destroyed a few of my favorite plants…In Boomer's mind, he is the’ keeper of the castle’. In my mind, as cute as he is, he is a ‘master of destruction’!
