My soul dog Leo passed away 8 days ago. I’m completely devastated, and since we were doing round the clock caregiving in his last few months, I’m left with an intense anxiety about needing to care for him.
There’s an empty plot in the backyard beneath our big living room picture window… I’d love to plant some things that remind me of him to give me something to care for in those moments but I don’t know the first thing about gardening. I’m in zone 9b.
He loved deer grass… every single time we’d walk past he’d spend a lifetime sniffing and rubbing his face on it, so I’d like to include that. And since I called him “king leonitus” for a while as a nickname, I thought I’d like to plant Lion’s Tail since its name is “Leonotis Leonurus”. The color of the flowers also reminds me vividly of his snow jacket that brings back so many memories. Are these too large? That area is maybe 5 feet wide by 3 feet deep. Can the Lion’s Tail be trimmed to an appropriate size when it grows too large?
I’d also like to fill some raised beds in a little section of the garden with a bench. I assume the deer grass and lions tail are too large for something like that? I was thinking I could plant zucchini because he loved it, and native wildflowers to remember the hundreds of miles we’ve hiked together.
He was obsessed with jumping on every oak tree he saw but I’m not sure planting one is an option because we’re likely not going to be in our house more than another 5 years.
I would love any ideas or advice since I haven’t planted anything but succulents before and I have no idea what can be put together. And if you have any ideas about another plant to represent my boy, I would be so grateful. He was a 13.5 year old German Shepherd… not a mean bone in his body and he fiercely loved his family and his adventures.
Thank you so much!
by GSDmama0703
8 Comments
He was a beautiful boy 😢💔
I can’t answer your question directly but plant what _feels_ right. Try not to try too hard and you’ll get it just right. Anything you plant will be planted with his love in mind is perfect, just as he is, right now. 💕
My condolences 😞
I’m so sorry for your loss ❤️💔❤️💔❤️
We like in rocky hard as heck clay soil. We put the cremains as far down as we can dig, so maybe 2’ and then start a cairn. One of our dogs has rocks from many European countries because a friend kept picking them up during his travels, even snagged one from the Vatican. She’s under her favorite dogwood tree. I had a bench next to the cairn and loved to sit and have a chat. Another one has a yellow rose bush because she kept tearing up the bushes when I’d plant and run around the yard, she also helped me in the vegetable garden and taught me that raw Lima beans taste good. For perennials check the almanac for your zone or use your county agricultural extension office. Make sure you do a little amending to your soil prior to planting.
I’m so sorry for the your loss of your good boy. I feel your love and pain through your precious words. I love his name too!
Have you considered a butterfly garden? I honor my lost loved ones through the butterflies. I would be happy to send you some native seeds to start a butterfly garden. If you’d like seeds dm me your address.
Either way it sounds like a wonderful idea. You’ll have to update us with pictures.
I’m so very sorry, my friend. I bet he was just the best boy. 😔
I don’t know anything about the plants you want to plant, i just wanted to say im so sorry for your loss. i have a 10yr old fur baby that is my world and i know I’ll be crushed when he goes over the rainbow bridge. What your planning for your sweet boy is so beautiful 🥰