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A grandma in a navy quilted vest plants tomato seedlings in garden soil as a Saint Bernard with dirty paws digs beside her. 34 / 36

Grandma Edie Was Planting Tomatoes. Moose Thought They Were Planting Something Else.

AI imagesaint bernardvegetable gardenplanting

Fresh dirt clings to Moose's big white paws, and the hole in front of him is getting deeper by the second. Grandma Edie crouches beside the garden bed in her navy quilted vest and plaid shirt, pressing a young tomato seedling into the soil with gentle fingers and glancing at her helper with a patient half smile. Rows of small green plants dot the dark earth, wooden stakes stand ready for later, and a blue watering can waits near the fence. Moose looks up from his work with an expression that says he is simply doing his part.

Digging is a natural behavior for many dogs. It can be a way to cool off, burn energy, or just have fun, and a garden full of freshly turned soil is an open invitation. Giving a dog a designated digging spot, such as a sandbox or a corner of loose dirt where toys are buried, can protect vegetable beds. It is also worth knowing that tomato plants themselves, especially the leaves and stems, contain compounds that can upset a dog's stomach, while ripe red tomatoes are generally considered fine in small amounts. Fertilizers and compost piles should be kept out of reach, since some can make dogs sick.

Gardening with a Saint Bernard is a team effort, even if the team does not always agree on where the holes should go. The tomatoes will grow, the dirt will brush off, and the memory of this muddy, cheerful afternoon will last a lot longer than the harvest.

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A grandma in a green quilted vest scatters grain to mallard ducks at a small garden pond as a Saint Bernard sits nearby.A Pond Full of Ducks, One Handful of Grain, and a Saint Bernard Right at the Water's EdgeA grandma in a navy quilted vest shovels a snowy driveway while a Saint Bernard bounds happily through a deep snowbank.Grandma Edie Grabbed the Shovel. Moose Found a Better Use for the Snow.
A white-haired grandma in an olive quilted vest smiles at a red and white Saint Bernard at an evening farmers market.Grandma Edie Came for Squash. Moose Had a Different Plan for the Evening.A smiling grandma in glasses and a green quilted vest rests her hand on a Saint Bernard in a frosted autumn garden.The Garden Was Done for the Year. Moose Insisted on One Last Inspection.A white-haired grandma in a cream puffer jacket offers a sandwich to a Saint Bernard while sitting on a wooden bench.Grandma Edie Sat Down to Eat Lunch Alone. That Lasted About Four Seconds.A smiling white-haired grandma in a green quilted vest sits at a lace-covered tea table beside a large Saint Bernard.Grandma Edie Set the Table for Tea. Somebody Invited Himself to Sit at It.