If you've lost a beloved pet then we've walked in the same shoes.
When I began this blog in 2014, Ferris, our pure bred soft coated wheaten terrier was just four years old. We got him when he was 8 weeks old from a reputable breeder just north of Denver. All the puppies in the litter looked alike, as do most wheaten puppies, but Ferris was the smallest male in the litter and he made up for his size by becoming a big personality which we loved dearly.
There are so many memories in those early years and all the years really. Ferris was stubborn at times, which is a common trait to many terriers. Yet he was exceptionally cute and made many people smile with his perky ears and outgoing demeanor. Ferris was always ready to engage in life and be part of our lives.
The hardest part of grief is the quiet house that feels empty.
We lost him on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024. He was fourteen and a half.
Ferris suffered from severe neck and back pain the last couple of years but was well managed with prescription medication and excellent veterinarian care. Unfortunately his pain became too much. We knew, we all knew it was time to let go.
This is the first time I've been able to write about him and let all of you who read this blog know about his passing. I've posted my favorite photos of him. We think of Ferris every day and will never forget our time with him.
Ferris at 8 weeks when we brought him home
Ferris at 1
Ferris at 4, he LOVED the snow!
Ferris at 6 at Red Rocks getting in a stair workout
Ferris at 7, my favorite picture in front of the Serviceberry 'Autumn Brilliance
'
Ferris and Glen on the Boise River Greenbelt in October 2023
Jan. is the time to sign up for a garden class or two from local,
independent garden centers and botanic gardens, like this Rose Symposium
at Denver Botanic Gardens. (G.Holmes, via Betty Cahill, Special to The
Denver Post)
Some
people greet January with the post-holiday blues and are a pound or two
heavier — or both. Not gardeners! (Well, maybe the weight gain part,
but that will easily be worked off as the garden muscles get back into
action.)
Turn any blues into New Year garden resolutions that can
recharge your attitude and set January in motion — think and plan ahead
to an abundant harvest and colorful landscape. Dreaming of spring is
officially here.
Where to start? We all know the basics — what
parts of the garden worked well and to your liking last year and what
needs improvement. You can go as far as sketching out the current layout
using internet tools to draw it to scale or do as I have done: winging
it with lines and curves here and there along with x’s and o’s to
distinguish trees from perennials. A visual blueprint helps you
formulate an upcoming season game plan where you can make notes and play
around with plant ideas and design.
If
your budget permits, consider hiring a professional designer or
contractor to plan out your gardens and landscape. (Betty Cahill,
Special to The Denver Post)
If your budget
permits, consider hiring a professional landscape designer or
contractor, which I’ve also done with success over the years. They will
see your outdoor digs with fresh ideas and help tremendously, especially
if your goals include major plant conversions such as incorporating
less water-thirsty plants, replacing turf areas or any other ideas you
have. Always keep in mind when trying to conserve seasonal outdoor water
that trees, shrubs and new plantings will always need water and your
attention.
Now the fun begins (the dreaming of spring part,)
whether you’re a DIY or working with a designer: deciding what plants
are in the wrong place, need to be divided or, dare I say, moved on to
the green pasture compost heap. Do the homework involved in researching
new plants and suggested landscape facelifts or entire re-dos. This
serves to confirm your choices and the final sign-off on proposals.
My
plant homework includes reaching for my small library of garden books
for plant and landscape ideas because they are regionally applicable,
along with the help of my trusty computer search engine that often sends
me on a three-hour plant thrill ride. Inevitably I find plants that
shouldn’t be planted in a Zone 5 landscape. I eventually conclude that I
can’t move to Arizona just so I can grow a Joshua tree (Yucca
brevifolia) and Organ Pipe Cactus (Stenocereus thurberi), two of my
favorite plants that remind me of visiting my parents. who spent their
retired winters living in their motor home parked in some of the most
beautiful Arizona state parks.
To help with your research, don’t overlook the excellent garden
education resources available locally. January is the time to sign up
for a garden class or two from local, independent garden centers and
botanic gardens. Check their websites for the latest class listings.
Day-long garden seminars and symposiums are very popular up and down the
Front Range through the winter months. Refer to the resources below for
a list of workshops, events and more.
One of my often-used
computer bookmarks takes me to the listings for CSU Extension free
webinars, ranging in topics from seed starting, unique annuals and
fire-resilient landscapes. Find the link under Planttalk below for
recent past programs and new ones for 2025.
Jan.
is the perfect window to take stock of your seed-starting supplies and
equipment and refresh your cache as needed. (Betty Cahill, Special to
The Denver Post)
January is the perfect window
to take stock of your seed-starting supplies and equipment and refresh
your cache as needed. Outdoor seed starting for popular vegetables like
tomatoes and peppers, and many annuals including zinnia, cosmos and
sunflowers, won’t need to be started until March or later. If you’re
using early planting equipment like cold frames, then getting seeds
started sooner makes sense. Also, there are some plant seeds that need
10 or more weeks to germinate and be ready for planting outside. The
short list includes artichokes, feverfew, chamomile, celery, angelonia,
and bee balm. Planting charts which include annuals, herbs and
vegetables timing and more information are under resources below.
Moisture
has been very scarce along the Front Range. Our landscapes are dry. We
need to act on behalf of our plants. Hook up hoses and sprinklers and
deep water the newest landscape plants from last year, followed by
trees, shrubs and perennials.
As you clear out and pack away past
holiday decorations, do the planet a solid by recycling Christmas trees.
Check with your local municipality if your county isn’t listed.
Artificial tree recycling is doable, or consider donating or reusing,
check the link for more tips.
