Two Big Faces Appeared Over the Edge of the Garden Bed

Two big faces peer over the edge of a raised wooden garden bed. A fawn Great Dane with soulful eyes and wrinkled brow looks straight at the camera, and next to him a brown and white calf leans in, its pink nose near the lettuce leaves. Rows of seedlings and young greens fill the bed below, and a fence and flower pots line the yard behind them.

Garden beds are tempting for animals, and big pets can do quick damage to a row of seedlings. Some garden plants are harmful to both dogs and cattle, so check what is growing and keep unsafe plants fenced off. Fresh greens can also upset a calf's stomach if eaten in large amounts, since young cattle have sensitive digestive systems. Great Danes are famously gentle for their size, but they need training and space, and they can knock things over with a wag. A raised bed with a low fence is a reasonable compromise. Talk to your vet if you are unsure what is safe to grow near your animals.

Both look as though they are asking the same polite question: is this lunch? The Dane's brow is furrowed with concern, and the calf's eyes are wide with interest. Neither has done anything wrong yet, but the garden may need a guard. It is a charming reminder that curiosity is a shared language.