Hi GPODers!
We have a very special submission on Garden Photo of the Day today, courtesy of Tingshu Hu in Dunstable, Massachusetts. If you’ve been following the blog for a while now, Tingshu’s name will ring a bell, as she has shared the incredible garden she has created with her husband, Philip, many times (Low Maintenance Garden in Massachusetts, Flowering Trees in Tingshu’s Garden, Tingshu’s Massachusetts Garden, Chickens in Tingshu’s Garden, and so many more). If you subscribe to Fine Gardening‘s print magazine, you might have seen her garden grace the pages at the end of last year (A Space Created with Chinese Design Elements and English Garden Aesthetics). Tingshu’s garden delights in every season and there is an endless array of scenes and structures to admire, but today we’re focusing on the furry cast of garden companions that have enjoyed the garden through lots of ups and downs.
Our garden grows together with our dogs, especially with our Havanese dog Deedee. He witnessed all the major evolvements of the garden and enjoyed playing there since February 2007.
Our garden in May 2010: Deedee was testing our newly built pathway, beside which two azaleas and a Japanese maple tree were newly planted. Lulu (an American Eskimo) was more interested in the tulip blooms. Behind Lulu was a young Prairifire crabapple tree (Malus ‘Prairifire’, Zones 4–8).
Deedee was guarding a flock of chickens in October 2011. In history, Havanese dogs were used to herd chickens on Cuban farms. He was very gentle with the chickens. The plants behind Deedee include Annabelle hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, Zones 3–9), potted red coleus, Japanese maple, and Jonagold apple (Malus domestica ‘Jonagold’, Zones 5–8).
Deedee and Lulu were sharing a peaceful moment (July 2014) with two bantam chicks.
After Lulu passed away in 2016, Deedee was lonely and lost interest in many things. We got him a little brother, Luke, in 2017, and Deedee was reinvigorated. This picture was taken in May 2017, soon after a new fence was installed to protect them. Running in the front was Deedee. Luke, 3 months old, tried very hard to keep up with him. These fences marked the beginning of building the front garden.
The two brothers got along very well. They liked to rest in this patch of creeping phlox (Phlox subulata, Zones 3–9) (May 2020).
Deedee and Luke enjoyed a walk along a garden pathway in the early morning (May 2022). The plants behind them include two azaleas in bloom, faded tulips, iris, hosta, canna, and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis, Zones 3–8).
A rare picture where Luke and mom were in the same frame, each minding their own business (August 2023). The tall plants beside the pergola include Striata canna (Canna ‘Striata’, Zones 7–10) and America rose (Rosa ‘JACclam’, Zones 6–9). The low-growing plants along the walkway include blue fescue (Festuca glauca, Zones 4–9), floss flower (Ageratum houstonianum, annual), Flower Carpet rose, ajuga, sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima, Zones 5–9), and Alaska nasturtium (Nasturtium ‘Alaska Mix’, annual).
Deedee was smelling the newly harvested tomatoes (July 2024). The flowering plants include Profusion zinnia in the raised bed and self-seeding sweet alyssum.
The two brothers were relaxing on the bridge on a midsummer afternoon (July 2024). The blooming pink flower in the center far away is a potted crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica, Zones 7–9). We overwinter it in the greenhouse.
Deedee stood in front of a fishpond in June 2022. Plants along the fishpond include a Japanese maple tree, blue fescue, coral bell, sedum, creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia, Zones 4–8), iris, and catmint. To the right of Deedee were hostas and a false cypress. A patch of wildflowers was blooming in the background. Deedee passed away on June 2, 2025 (almost 19 years old). He has left his footprints all over the garden and is now resting there—a life happily lived in the garden.
Thank you so much for sending this beautiful submission to us, Tingshu, and for sharing the passing of your beloved Deedee. The people and pets that we enjoy our outdoor spaces with are just as vital as the plants we carefully tend and arrange. Your garden will never be the same without Deedee walking its paths and playing on the lawn, but the memories will remain in that space forever. ❤️
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