GardenPup

Mantis Mania or Giant Flea Alert?

2011-09-08T04:31:00.000-07:00

Hi ~ Lucy-Maude, here. As many of you know, I work at Corliss Bros. Garden Center in Ipswich. After you view the following photos, taken on my Sunday afternoon break, you'll understand why I'm asking anyone moved by this display of animal cruelty to turn in my owner... she placed this giant flea on my person and proceeded to photograph my reactions... all the while claiming it was a praying mantis.

To my fellow canines, please read my closing comments at the end for the complete story.

I don't have thumbs, so could someone

pick up a phone and dial MSPCA?

Just to let you know... no flea, er praying mantis,

was harmed in the production of this sequence.

Actually, I suffered no long-term effects, other

than the nightmares that evening.

Am I not a patient girl?

Yikes! This was a little too up close and personal!

"Finally... he's leaving?"

Going.....

Going....

Ooops! He's baaack!

Major loss of dignity, here!

Humans sure find humor in the oddest places.

I heard something like, "This is the money shot!"

My mum now uses this as wallpaper on her

computer ~ pretty scary on a 17" screen!

And if you don't think this tickled!

Here, I provide the giant flea with an excellent vantage point!

Next stop? Back to the garden mum from whence he came...

Home sweet home for the mantis (I still think he's a flea!),

the end of this Sunday photo op and, hopefully, the

restoration of my canine dignity.

In closing, I must admit that this post has been cathartic for me. I have gotten out all my inner feelings and angst about this incident and, upon reflection, do not intend to press charges against my owner. I shall consider this episode an exercise in poor judgment, a quirk of human nature and an example of a gardener gone wild. I am, after all, a working dog despite my diminutive size and, like any other dog, will go to great lengths to please my owner... often employing heroic effort.

I am also given to understand, that in these troubled economic times, I am fortunate to be classified as a "working breed" of dog (part of my heritage includes classification as a "toy breed" - the Chihuahua part, not the Welsh Corgi part). I thoroughly enjoy my position as guardian of the Corliss time clock, alerting everyone on Essex Road when fellow employees punch in and out.

Finally, I rescind my initial plea ~ "I don't have thumbs, so could someone pick up a phone and dial MSPCA?" Do not call the authorities! My mum... I think I'll keep her!

All Photos & Text ©Deb Lambert 2010

PLEASE NOTE: If you are reading this article on a website or blog, other than my own, it has been posted there without my knowledge or permission! I'd be grateful for an emailed "heads-up" if you notice such thievery!

Help stop theft and plagiarism of the intellectual property displayed within my many blogs, the blogs I maintain for Corliss Bros., and the content of my website. The "feed scrapers" that appropriate my material, insert advertising into my text and display my entire articles (complete with photos) have already stolen unknown quantities of my copyrighted works. Sadly, other garden writers/bloggers are experiencing similar theft, so we must all remain vigilant, assisting each other in this effort. We'd all be grateful for your vigilance, as well. Thank you ~ Deb Lambert, 'GardenAuthor'

"Pumpkins and Spiders... Oh, My!"

2010-10-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

I like my human and I definitely think I'll keep her, but there are certain times of year when many of us canines are asked to perform feats above and beyond the call of duty... well beyond the time-honored traditions of fetching, looking cute and providing unconditional love. Christmas, Easter and Halloween figure prominently in this category. Posing with one's feline siblings, trying to look pleasant amidst the post gift opening carnage, while one's owner snaps 20 or 30 "perfect shots" on Christmas morning, is not my idea of a great time. Nor is posing in a patch of spring-flowering bulbs, wearing a pair of gigantic bunny ears, the highlight of my year... does she think I don't hear her laughing at the sight of me with four ears, as she scrolls through iPhoto?

Thus far, I have not been forced to pose for photos with antlers on my head like those poor pups in the pet catalogs (hey, browsing through pet catalogs passes the time when she's out on errands). Although our owners seem to love us and delight in our companionship, let's face it - there's a lot of laughter at our expense. Obviously, since I have my own blog and an online presence, I'm totally computer-savvy. I've seen the Purina site with "amusing" pet antics and don't get me started about You Tube, although secretly I do enjoy seeing humans look silly.

Now, I'm not really on a rant about these staged holiday pics, but recently I had to endure a Halloween photo shoot. Until this year, I've managed to skate through all the Halloween hoopla unscathed. I've never had to wear a costume, nor have I ever been dressed as a pumpkin. Evidently, the 950-pound pumpkin in the Corliss Bros. Garden Center parking lot prompted this after-hours photo op. A six-foot green gourd and a big, hairy, black, fake (thank goodness!) tarantula were my costars.

Frankly, I'm just left wondering, what was she thinking? What motivates humans to stage these events, snap endless photos and share said photos, while laughing hysterically. (Still, not a rant!) Somehow, I thought that when a canine reached the ripe old age of 13, such antics would be a thing of the past and that we senior pet citizens would receive the respect afforded to our aging human counterparts. Well there goes that theory! Most of my readers realize that I'm a working dog, but between walking breaks, the intervening hours leave plenty of time for reflection. I'm not sure if I'm simply waxing philosophical, or if I'm just over-thinking this whole issue.

All in all, it's a great life... good food, roof over my head and a busy life with lots of human and canine interaction, so I'm not complaining. And, I suppose since my human went to the effort of composing some decent shots, I may as well present the results of our photo shoot... even if it is at great risk to my dignity. So, without further adieu, and without further comment, I present...

"Pumpkins and Spiders... Oh, My!"

This photo op is at an end!

Happy Halloween* everyone!

*[Not to worry ~ the nightmares featuring big, hairy spiders have
pretty much stopped at this point.]

Text & Photos ©Deb Lambert 2010

Greetings from GardenPup

2010-02-15T13:00:00.000-08:00

Hi, I'm Lucy-Maude, aka "GardenPup."
Welcome to my new blog!
My owner 'GardenAuthor' has closed down
my former blog (Dog's Eye View) and given me
a new start - a fresh forum for presenting the canine
viewpoint on nature, gardening and life in general.

The old homestead.
We live, work and garden in New England,
so scenes like this are not unusual.

Here I demonstrate the importance of employing the sense of smell, as I scout the backyard for squirrels and other backyard interlopers. There are two packs of roving coyotes in our neighborhood, so my human is never far from my side.

Tracking birds requires good eyesight,
as well as a keen sense of smell...
I'm thinking blue jay.

Suit up and join me for the rest of the tour!

At the garden center where I work, my winter duties
are relatively light, although I thought maybe I'd check
the irrigation system. It's drained and shut off?
Well, I'll just finish my break.

I'm also keeping a close eye on the truck fleet
during my breaks.

Still with me? Good!

My favorite time of year at work is autumn.
Corliss Bros. Garden Center & Nursery in Ipswich, MA
is especially colorful, come fall.

Favorite way to spend a morning off?
Hiking through our local park, situated on the
banks of a huge pond... a feast for the all the senses!

Truffle hound? Close enough! I'm definitely a fungi fan,
getting involved in all my human's fungi photo shoots.

Amazing? Here, during a break at work last fall,
I find my way through a straw bale maze.

What's better than enjoying the garden bench,
while your human toils in the earth?

Helen's Flower (Helenium) & Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium)

Shrub Clematis Clematis heracleifolia 'Davidiana'

Rudbeckia triloba

Butterfly Bush Buddleia davidii

See you next time... "Nighty-Night!"