Arriving at Digging Dog is not a particularly easy feat, but it is spectacularly beautiful. One must first wend ones way through the Anderson Valley, home to many old wonderful wineries, followed by a slow snaking through an ancient sacred redwood forest, eventually coming along an old ever-widening river that leads one to a breathtaking emerging at ocean’s end. And now one must retrace back through a pygmy forest, arriving at a dirt road, back into the forest that is home to Digging Dog Nursery, one of America’s famed Destination Nurseries. My first visit was over a dozen years ago, spurred by one of my dearest friends, Marsha Mello, illustrator extraordinaire, and designer of Digging Dog’s logo and beautiful and unique catalogues.

So it was with great delight that I received a nursery gift certificate from Marsha, creating a wonderful excuse to drive out to a recent open house at Digging Dog to select from their vast and exquisite selections. More importantly, I knew I was in for an unparalleled visual treat, and I, and my friend, Eta, whom I invited along, were not disappointed.

Anticipation heightened simply arriving at the gate where Marsha’s whimsical imagery greeted me, making me smile.

Adding to our delight was a small (ironic) sign on the adjacent gate saying, “No dogs, please.”

Stepping inside the world that is Digging Dog we were immediately made to feel welcome by the lovely setting awaiting visitors, which included plates of homemade cookies, and yes, I helped myself! Delicious!

Visitors were given clipboards and carts, and were invited to browse among the vast array of unusual plants spread out on tarps, and under canopies. I found myself caught between the desire to select plants I would be bringing home to add to my own garden and an even greater desire to simply soak up the beauty that is Digging Dog. I managed to do both. Entering the grounds I was greeted by this inviting display.

Where to start? Where to start? Honestly? I could not in that moment even think of selecting and acquiring plants. I’d been there before and I had a sense of what awaited me, just up those stairs at the top of the page, through that entry, which is a round opening in a very tall beech hedge. And I’m going to take you with me where you will undoubtedly agree. Ready? Breathe…

Yes, it’s a lush as it appears. Once transported into that magic that is the creation of landscape designer Gary Ratway, there is scarce chance of turning back. One wants to linger, to enjoy, to soak up, to merge with the incredible beauty he has committed to creating. A true heaven on Earth.

Enjoy this bird’s eye view of the enchanting top of the pink bench awaiting you at that end:

This green stretch of pristine lawn stretches a good city block. Lining the sides one is treated to an endless array of gorgeous well-cared for perennials and bushes, lovingly and artfully juxtaposed, each section more breathtaking than the last. I will leave the naming to you, my darlings. I was there just for the experience itself.

Opposite end holds a second lovely ceramic chair, enfolded magically with darker wings.

Just as I thought my senses were saturated with the beauty, I stepped down out of this secluded spot, and was overwhelmed with the full realization that the entire 10-foot high beech hedge is flanked on the outside thusly:

As a gardener one cannot help but begin to think of the man hours it must take to create and maintain such splendor!

As the scope of this creation begins to fully envelope one, all sorts of imaginings are stirred in the soul, I do declare. How many of us have such a vision? What are the possibilities to co-create with plants, should we opt for such a luxury?

One thing is certain. Digging Dog undoubtedly stands tall next to many famed European gardens, and it is easy to understand why it was featured in Martha Stewart Living!

Pulling myself at last to my second task, I select the following lovelies to grace my garden. Lucky me. The pink and purple penstemons and red and yellow yarrows are familiar. The rest are a beauteous blur. Who cares?

As I am moving towards the exit I hear a worker calling out, and smile as I realize why other dogs were discouraged this day. It was Neptune, one of several Digging Dog resident canines, sneaking a peek at the day’s visitors. Hello, Neptune, you good boy, you!

Just then my lovely friend Eta appears with a special treasure to take to her own garden in Marin. It is a pink lupine, yes.

We are graciously greeted by horticulturist Deborah Whigham, co-founder and co-owner of Digging Dog Nursery, of which she can be extremely proud.

I do hope you find yourselves at her door some soft and gentle day.

Love and gardening blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on July 23rd, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: Field Trips | 34 Comments »

It was actually Frances of Faire Garden who brought Burgess to my attention when I wrote about my experiences with (what Southerners call) buzzards. It brought to Frances’s mind her deep enjoyment as a child of Thornton Burgess’s Ol’ Mistah Buzzard in his Animal Stories for children. I immediately bought a boxed set of six of his books, delivered handily by mail, and that evening began to delve into the world Burgess created first for his own son, as so often happens with writers, being inspired to write for their own children–and then discovering the Universe had a much larger plan for their creations than they had originally imagined. It happens.

Thornton Burgess (1874-1965) who lived his life in Cape Cod, had been brought up by a father who taught him a deep appreciation for nature. As an adult Burgess wrote over 170 books and 15,000 stories. (He would have made a great blogger!) Among his many books are these six I present you with today. I’m betting that many of you will have fond memories of having read these books when you were a child. For some strange reason, in spite of being introduced to many children’s book series as a child (Honeybunch series, all the Hardy Boy series, all the Nancy Drew series, etc.) Burgess was not in my home library. So it is with a new inspiration to have discovered him now, and surely there will be some among you who also did not read him. And others will be delighted to have their memories refreshed as they have children or grandchildren who will appreciate them, and gardening grandmothers or grandfathers will be particularly pleased as these books do kindle an appreciation for those critters who live out in Nature, though I must say they do spend an inordinate amount to time contemplating catching and devouring each other, so stand forewarned!

“He comes to grief, however fleet,
Who doesn’t watch his flying feet.”

Ultimately even the untrustworthy characters, such as Reddy Fox, find a place in the hearts of their woodland companions, so one not worry about frightening anyone. (Though after what our children are exposed to these days, I’m certain they will find these stories very tame.)

As with European fables, the characters live their lives in a moral spotlight, teaching our children to consider acts of cunning and acts of compassion; trickery and honesty; pride and humility–all worthy topics, offered in a most engaging, humorous and delightful style. I have thoroughly enjoyed each story, laughing out loud at some of the antics! Perhaps my favorite, and I suspect I am certainly in large, varied and wide company, is the beloved Peter Cottontail.

I can only imagine how absolutely pleased with himself Thornton Burgess must have been when he thought of this name! I bet he had a very big smile on his face all day. I would have!

“Peter Rabbit’s changed his name.
In the future without fail
You must call him, if you please,
Mr. Peter Cottontail.”

Peter is probably the best-known and loved of Burgess’s characters. (Maybe it’s because he’s a vegetarian and isn’t eating any of his friends??) The characters live their lives in the enchanting and approachable world of Green Meadows, the Old Briar-patch, Farmer Brown’s garden, the Green Forest, the Smiling Pool and the Purple Mountains. Here they learn the value of being true to themselves and each other. Here lives innocence, good storytelling and charm.

Accompanying Thorton Burgess’s lively-paced and lighthearted stories are the beautiful old illustrations of Harrison Cady, and the newer adaptations by New Yorker, Thea Kliros. Both artists capture the spirit of the books perfectly.

“Hop along, skip along,
The sun is shining bright;
Hum a song, sing a song,
My heart is always light.”

Not unlike the impulses of Celia Thaxter, the impact of Thornton Burgess lives on in Cape Cod at the Thornton W. Burgess Museum and Green Briar Nature Center. I was particularly charmed to see they lead visitors on wildflower garden walks to this day. Oh, gosh. Wouldn’t you just love to follow Dr. Shirley Cross through a wildflower field? I would.

It is a gift that we have such literature available to us to read to our children and grandchildren. Happy, healthy choices. Enjoy, dear readers.

Love and gardening blessings,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on July 11th, 2008 by Kathryn
Filed under: Book Notes | 20 Comments »