Friday, February 26, 2010

Did I kill my roses?.... and what about that dog

Dear traveler, welcome to the house in the roses!

Please come in! I'm brewing tea. Would you not join me for some tea? Go ahead, take a sit, and while we sip and enjoy this sweetness, if you care to listen I'd share a few things with you too--secrets about my life, here in Hollow Village.

One would think that life here in the Hollow is a perfect paradise, but this ain't totally true. I get frustrated just like you, and just like you, I do get headaches too. Besides, I’m bound to believe that I’d kill my roses, and that thought is making me feel very miserable... after a week of sunshine and lovely weather, I got “itchy green thumb”, and thus, I decided I wanted to satisfy my gardening desires and pruned my roses... Were the gods laughing at me? One would think so, because that very night the temperature dropped down considerably, and the following day the sky turned grayish-black and few snowflakes drifted off the sky teasingly... as if in revenge.

It scares me to think that I have become the slayer of my own passion, so on looking for a gleam of hope on the Internet this morning, I read that “Mid-February is the best time to prune roses or after the last hard freeze and before new growth appears”, and although I still think that this might not apply to our region, with its harsh and ever impredictable February weather, my hopes are high for the best blooms ever. More tea?

Oh yes, I’m anticipating with much excitement the rebirth of the earth. I cannot tell you how much my soul yearns for the contact with Nature; sunshine warming my back as my fingers work the soil...
I treasure the beauty and stillness of the garden, and work very hard at it too! It is in stillness that I find peace. It is in stillness that I am opened up to Nature’s voice, so when this harmony is in some way broken, or interrupted, I tend to get very frustrated. Barking dogs top my list of frustrations—actually, barking dogs, digging dogs, inquisitive dogs, jumping dogs—they all frustrate me. Can you imagine my annoyance over my neighbor’s dog, who happily meets all the qualifications above listed?

I have proof. Here is "Jumping-Snoop" on top of our 6" high fence! She can be there barking for hours or just observing the panorama on the other side of the fence, and if she happens to be too tired that day to jump, then she goes for the "underworld" as of to speak... she digs under the fence, disturbing roots and bulbs and whatever she finds in her way.

Ah yes, every garden has its own secrets and its own stories to tell. Believing I was the sweet "Fairy" of my garden was a nice thought for a while. But I had got it all wrong. You see, the other day I read that witches dislike dogs as much as dogs dislike cats. That said, then I must be the "Witch" of my garden!

So you beware you little "Jumping-Snoop" you! I could turn you into a mouse, and “Morning” would be here waiting for you: hair smooth, claws like knives, tips of teeth like silver, eyes that shine.... arrrgggg!!




19 comments:

  1. Good day dear Cielo!-)*

    I wil more and more tea,please,my dear friend!
    And I wil listen to you endless...
    That's true!
    You roses have a beautiful color and I see you in the garden,it is really good post of you today!-)***

    Many love and hugs,

    ***Violetta***

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  2. G'day, sweet Cielo ~ I have so again enjoyed my spot of tea with you.

    Your chats are so enjoyable & inviting, to linger with you is wonderful. You are such a elegant hostess, your home is beautiful, tea is delicious.

    I say that pooch had better be careful ... you may just wiggle your nose!

    Have a wonderful weekend.
    Hugs, TTFN ~ Marydon

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  3. Oh my how warm and inviting. I am completely mesmerized by the images in this post.
    Kim

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  4. dear Cielo, don't worry about your roses, you may cut them during all the winter - time, but best in time of decreasing moon, avoid full moon. You can cut all in the garden in winter without doing any harm to trees or bushes or anything else, you'll see, believe an old gardener! xoxox kri

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  5. Hello Little Dog Witch,
    I also dislike the bad side of dogs. I'm much more of a cat person myself. I would be VERY perturbed by a neighbor's dog that does all the things you mentioned. You seem to be very gentle in your irritation.
    Don't worry about the roses. As long as it doesn't get down into the teens, you should be fine, especially if they are insulated by snow.
    Cindee

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  6. I enjoy reading your blog and I would never have believed that a dog would do that without the photo proof...unbelievable! Some lovely and prickly vines would be a very nice addition to that fence don't you think?

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  7. I hope your roses will be alright. You may have to trim some ends off again. I went over and looked at all of your roses and they are so beautiful. I feel in love with the yellow roses. ;-)
    I guess your doggy doesn't need stilts to get out of the yard.LOL!

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  8. I don't believe anyone should have to listen to barking dogs. Tell your neighbor to get a bark collar, they work! Char

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  9. lovely post Cielo. I think a barking dog sitting on any fence would turn many a fairy into a witch.

    I am sure your roses will bloom better than ever after your pruning.

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  10. Your roses should be fine, maybe a little winter kill on the tips, but they will be fine.
    I can't believe that dog. Oh, my I have never seen one jump up and sit on the fence. Maybe you need a squirt gun or water bottle. That might make him get done, nasty digger though. I bet it upsets kitty.
    Loved your post, thanks for tea....
    hugs,
    Donna

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  11. Thanks for the tea--so refreshing for stoppers-by! And a dog collar to restrain barking? Great idea!

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  12. Hi Cielo! Mmm! I'll take a cup of green tea or chamomile tea. :) We just pruned our rosebushes yesterday. I am so looking forward to spring. I can't wait to dig my fingers into my gardens. lol I bet your rosebushes will be just fine, Cielo:) By any chance, do you have David Austin's roses in your garden? Are they easy to grow? I would love to include some of these roses in my garden.
    Have a wonderful day.
    Sandra

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  13. What a pretty post! I agree with the others that think your roses will be fine.
    It's too bad your neighbors allow their dog to be so annoying.

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  14. Hi!
    I can´t believe that dog. I have never seen something like that.

    Thank you for hosting this wonderful tea time, I´m, enjoy Cielo.

    Lovely weekend to you!
    Warm greetings, Lennu

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  15. I despise barking dogs!!!

    I'd certainly despise dogs which jump over or burrow under my fence.

    You must do something about this. Aren't there laws in your area? About disturbing the peace? About causing havoc in a neighboring yard?

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  16. Hello, i do like your blog and i visit the house in the roses with great pleasure.... like a magic world and a fairy tail.... have a good week-end fairy Cielo! I'll come back

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  17. I think your roses will be just fine. Hey, mine have been living in pots for 4 years! This year they are going in along with some pruning which I am behind on. As for that dog which would drive me up a wall, how about New Dawn right there on the fence? Perhaps the dog won't climb as high then though I don't know about the barking. Your photos are lovely as always, and I too, can't wait to dig in the dirt again!
    Ulrike

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  18. Querida niña te mando un abrazo, siempre encuentro en tu blog algo que me es familiar,¿será el cariño por las rosas que modela el parecido?

    Felicidades para ti y los tuyos.


    Maruxa.

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  19. Ha! Too cute! I would be MOST frustrated with a neighbor's dog who did this to my garden too. Grrrrr! A witch's spell is needed-and quick! I'll work some magic from this end and hope your neighbor's and their jumpy dog move soon;)

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