Blooms, Herbs & Beyond

A garden can be a peaceful place all by itself.

Add a four-legged companion, though, and somehow the experience changes.

I learned this firsthand during the time Phoenix, my husky I used to own, shared my garden with me. Whether I was tending plants, checking what was blooming, pulling weeds or simply walking around looking at what was happening that day, there was often a furry presence nearby—sometimes observing, sometimes exploring and sometimes getting a little more involved than I necessarily wanted him to!

And it made me realize something.

Gardens aren’t only spaces we create for ourselves. They can become wonderful shared spaces for the animals who are part of our lives, too.

There are some genuine benefits to having a pet accompany you in the garden—as well as a few things every gardener should keep in mind.

Companionship While You Garden

Gardening is often a solitary activity, but solitary doesn’t necessarily mean lonely.

Still, there’s something special about having a pet nearby while you’re working.

You may be planting, pruning, harvesting or watering while your dog stretches out in the grass or wanders around investigating every interesting smell.

There doesn’t have to be any conversation.

There doesn’t have to be an agenda.

You’re simply outside together.

And sometimes, that’s companionship at its very best.

They Give Us Another Reason to Get Outside

We gardeners usually don’t need much encouragement to step outdoors. Give us one new bud to inspect and we’re halfway out the door already!

Pets give us another reason.

Dogs in particular need opportunities for movement, exploration and fresh air. Spending time together in the garden can encourage us to stay outdoors a little longer, walk around a little more and perhaps notice things we might otherwise have missed.

That movement doesn’t have to be strenuous to be worthwhile.

A walk around the yard, a little gardening and some playtime can turn ordinary outdoor time into an enjoyable part of the day for both gardener and pet.

Pets Experience the Garden Differently Than We Do

One thing I loved watching was the curiosity.

We might walk into the garden and immediately notice that a flower has opened.

A dog may be fascinated by something entirely different.

A scent.

A sound.

A bird.

An insect moving through the grass.

A spot beneath a shrub that apparently requires a full investigation!

Watching an animal explore reminds us that a garden isn’t merely something pretty to look at. It is a living environment filled with sights, sounds, scents and movement.

Sometimes our pets remind us to slow down and experience it that way, too.

A Garden Can Provide Enrichment for Pets

A safe garden gives pets opportunities to explore their environment naturally.

Different textures under their paws, changing scents, shaded areas, sunny spots and the movement of birds and insects can all make the outdoors interesting.

Even something as simple as following a scent trail through the yard can be mentally stimulating for a dog.

Of course, this doesn’t mean giving them unrestricted access to everything.

Which brings me to an important point.

Pet-Friendly Gardening Requires a Little Planning

Not every plant that is beautiful in a garden is safe for every pet.

Before adding new plants, it’s worth checking whether they could be harmful if your dog or cat chews or eats them. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, compost materials and other garden products should also be considered when pets have access to the area.

And then there are the gardening hazards we don’t always think about.

Sharp tools. Open bags of soil amendments. Standing water. Hot surfaces. Mulches or materials that curious animals may decide to taste.

A pet-friendly garden doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require us to look at the space from their perspective.

What could they reach? What might they chew? Where could they get into trouble?

Those few questions can help make garden time safer for everyone.

And Yes…Sometimes They Will “Help”

Let’s acknowledge something every pet-loving gardener eventually discovers.

Our definition of gardening and theirs may not be the same.

You see a freshly prepared garden bed.

They see an excellent digging opportunity.

You carefully arrange mulch.

They rearrange it.

You plant something.

They become extremely interested in the exact spot where you planted it.

You create a lovely pathway.

They establish an entirely different route.

And sometimes all you can do is laugh.

Gardening already teaches us that we can’t control everything. Sharing the garden with an animal simply reinforces the lesson!

Consider Giving Them Their Own Garden Space

If your pet spends a lot of time outside with you, it can help to intentionally create an area where they’re welcome to relax.

That might include a shady resting spot, access to fresh water, an open area for walking or playing, and pathways that allow them to move through the garden without trampling delicate plants.

You may even discover that your pet chooses a favorite garden spot all on their own.

And once they claim it?

Well…

You may want to accept that you no longer own that particular piece of real estate. 😊

They Can Make Us More Present

This may be one of my favorite benefits.

Animals are remarkably good at living in the moment.

They’re not standing in the garden worrying about what happened yesterday or planning next month’s planting schedule.

They’re experiencing what’s happening right now.

The breeze.

The sunshine.

The smells.

The sounds.

The ground beneath them.

There is something we can learn from that.

Gardening already encourages me to slow down and pay attention. Having a pet beside me added another reminder to simply enjoy being outside while I was there.

Not every moment in the garden needs to accomplish something.

Sometimes being there is enough.

The Memories Become Part of the Garden

Gardens hold memories.

We remember who gave us a certain plant.

We remember the first year something bloomed.

We remember the vegetables that surprised us, the plants that didn’t make it and the gardening experiments that taught us something.

And when we’ve shared that space with a pet, they become part of those memories too.

There are places in the garden that can remind us of them—where they liked to sit, where they followed us while we worked, or perhaps where they did something that wasn’t nearly as funny at the time as it became later.

Phoenix is no longer part of my everyday garden life, but the experience of having him there gave me another way of appreciating what a garden can be.

Not simply a place where plants grow.

But a place where life happens.

More Than a Garden

I often talk about gardening in terms of what it gives us beyond flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables.

Peace.

Curiosity.

Movement.

Patience.

Discovery.

Joy.

Having a pet alongside us can add something else to that list:

Companionship.

They may occasionally step where we’d rather they didn’t.

They may investigate something we’d prefer they leave alone.

And yes, they may have gardening ideas of their own!

But they also encourage us to get outside, explore, move, observe and enjoy the simple pleasure of sharing an ordinary day with another living creature.

And maybe that’s another reminder of what I’ve come to love so much about gardening.

The garden doesn’t have to be perfect.

The day doesn’t have to be extraordinary.

Sometimes joy looks like sunshine, something growing…

and a four-legged friend nearby.

A Little Garden Reminder

If your pet joins you outdoors, take a few minutes to make sure the plants and products within their reach are appropriate for them. Pet safety can vary by animal, plant and product, so when you’re unsure, check with a veterinarian or a reliable animal-safety resource.

Then grab your gardening gloves, head outside and enjoy your garden together.

Because some of the sweetest garden memories aren’t planted.

They simply happen.

Watch this accompanying YouTube video: https://youtu.be/gIUQgtxKgJs

Blooms, Herbs & Beyond — The Garden Journal