Now that’s what I’m barking about.  I do like variety to break up my naps…yawn.  I am generally about getting not much done, and a little of nothing!  In my doggie brain that logic makes complete sense.  So to help you humans- here are a bit of suggestions:
*  Organize your garden and yard equipment.  Clean your tools and sharpen them till they shine.  Glam up your working area. Once you find a spot for everything, you can decorate.   It will make you feel better and maybe you won’t yell at me so much!
*  Entice your senses in the garden- Add thyme on the path way, so when you walk on it, the smell lingers.  Put a piece of yard art on your fence, a little eye candy never hurt anyone!  Let your herbs bloom a bit, it encourages butterflies that look so pretty. Plant your garden in layers (heights) and shades of green. Besides don’t we all want to go green and reach higher?
*  Plants really are our friends- Plant peppermint or spearmint- those pesky ants really do hate it!  Accent with marigolds, they seem to keep the mosquitos away.  Add in some rosemary, this will irritate the slugs and snails.  Most of all don’t forget lavender. Lavender is heat loving, and the fleas hate it!  For that one I thank you.

As we are all working on harvesting our gardens, trimming plants from the heat, and starting our next projects, remember, a little goes a long way.  So stop in and talk with my humans.  They really do know what they are talking about.  And oh yeah, happy digging!

Boy by the end of July I’m hot and the ground is dry.  I’m continually looking for a place to cool my paws and wet my tongue. If I pant this much, I can’t image how the plants and trees feel. They can’t cool themselves off,  so why don’t we help the vegetation out just a little bit?  Let’s add some items, and remove some items:
*   Remove dead leaves, trim branches (off of roof line), and clear any fire fuel brush.  Thin plants out so they don’t touch each other, it eliminates fire “ladders”.  You are creating a free zone area near your home in case of a fire.

*   Add decomposed granite, rock or path fines for ground cover.  Place boulders in your landscape.  Create rock walls for fire blocks, and a place to sit!  Or in my case a place to perch from. Accent with some fire resistant plants, such as lavender, honeysuckle and agave.
By all of us dogs and humans working together, we can all stay safe.  And don’t worry, if I do smell or see anything, I will bark. Happy Digging!

Yes I know I do like to try and squeeze the word “bone” into every conversation.  But what I really enjoy this time of year is the smell of basil.  For us dogs it is one of the approved herbs.  Basil has antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiviral properties, so go ahead and sprinkle some on my food!  Along with the fresh basil, my owners also have fresh tomatoes, yum.  How about preparing some caprese or brushetta with all your fresh ingredients?  Here is a simple recipe even a dog can do.
3 ripe tomatoes (my owner likes one red, one orange, one yellow)
1 lb. mozzarella cheese cut in 1/4″ slices
25-30 basil leaves (one health bunch)
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Balsamic glaze (adds an extra burst of flavor)
Slice tomatoes and cheese, alternate the tomato, cheese and a leaf of basil as you stack it.  Top with a drizzle olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, a dash of pepper and dribble of balsamic glaze.
My owners like to eat it just like that, but you may want to serve it on lightly toasted french bread.
Au revoir, ciao, adios and happy digging!

Container gardening can add an aesthetic touch to your home; or be a great place to plant those tomatoes! Container gardening can be used in small places, places with little light, and spots with lots of light.  Here are some steps to get every dog or human started:  1.  Pick you container.  Have the container reflect you and your home.  An elegant pot, a modern container or an old cowboy boot.  Have fun with it, just make sure it has a hole for drainage.
2.  Use good soil (my owners have organic potting soil), it will retain more water and make your plants happy.
3.  Have all your plants be friends.  If it is a full sun area, make sure all plants are full sun.  Use the three amigos, Thrill, Fill and Spill brothers.  The Thrill is the eye catching larger plant; the Fill are the plants that fill in the area; and the Spill are the plants that spill over the containers edge.
4.  With our drought concerns, make sure you water before 8 am and after 9 pm.  And if you are a smart dog, you will choose plants that are heat tolerant and require low water.
5.  If you are planting your boxes for vegetables, you can also add ornamental plants to dress up the look of your garden. Pretty and functional, I dig it. Speaking of digging, garden boxes are usually big enough for me to get into and dig, dig, dig.
Happy Digging!