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Grandma in an olive vest pouring a watering can into a flower box of purple and pink blooms while a Dachshund looks on 26 / 31

Grandma Ruth Watered the Flower Box. Cocoa Came to Smell the Blooms.

AI imagedachshundflower gardenwatering can

A silvery watering can tips forward, and a fine spray falls over a planter full of pink and purple flowers. Grandma Ruth stands over it in her olive quilted vest, hair in a loose bun, her face calm as she works. Down by the box, Cocoa has stretched his chocolate-brown nose toward the blooms, ears hanging and eyes soft and curious. Gardening gloves and a small trowel lie nearby, and a covered porch and a few potted plants make a cozy backdrop. The garden seems to wake up under the water. The air smells of damp soil and fresh petals.

Flowers and dogs can mix well, but a few cautions help. Some common plants, like lilies, azaleas, tulips and sago palms, are toxic to pets, so check what you plant and ask your vet if you are unsure. Fertilizers, mulch and slug bait can also be harmful if swallowed, so store them out of reach. Dachshunds were bred to dig, so a freshly watered flower bed can be too tempting to resist. A fenced-off corner or a raised planter helps protect both the plants and the dog. A treat after he leaves the beds alone is a good way to teach him to stay out of them.

Ruth waters and Cocoa sniffs. Between them, the flowers get all the attention they could ask for. Nothing grows without a little help.

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White-haired grandma in a green vest sorting black-and-white photos on a table while a brown Dachshund sniffs themGrandma Ruth Spread Out Her Old Photos. Cocoa Wanted a Closer Sniff.Smiling white-haired grandma in a tan vest brushing a long-haired brown Dachshund on porch stepsGrandma Ruth Brought Out the Brush. Cocoa Held Perfectly Still.
Smiling grandma in a green vest on a sofa beside a record player with a chocolate Dachshund looking up in frontGrandma Ruth Dropped the Needle on a Favorite Record. Cocoa Listened Closely.Smiling grandma in glasses hanging white sheets on a line while a chocolate Dachshund leaps beneath themGrandma Ruth Hung Out the Sheets. Cocoa Raced Right Through Them.White-haired grandma in a tan vest picking a red apple from a tree while a brown Dachshund sniffs fallen apples belowGrandma Ruth Picked the Reddest Apple. Cocoa Checked the Ones on the Ground.White-haired grandma in a quilted vest tossing feed to hens while a chocolate Dachshund walks beside her in the yardGrandma Ruth Fed the Hens. Cocoa Made Sure Every Single One Was Watched.