The Royal Gardener Was Very Proud of This Particular Basket
A spotted gardener stands in the dim glow of a candlelit studio, looking straight at the viewer with calm brown eyes. The Dalmatian wears a deep green velvet coat trimmed in gold leaf embroidery, a lace cravat at the throat, and a worn leather apron that suggests honest work. In the crook of one arm sits a wicker basket spilling over with roses in blush pink, cream, and one bold crimson bloom. Every black spot on the face and paws seems placed by a careful brush.
Dalmatians were bred long ago to trot alongside carriages, and that history explains a lot about the dogs you meet today. They are athletic, energetic animals that tend to need plenty of daily exercise and something to do with their minds. A bored Dalmatian can get inventive in ways that a flower bed may not survive. Their short coats shed year-round, so regular brushing helps, and their ears and skin are worth checking now and then. If you are considering one, talk to your vet and a reputable breeder or rescue about what suits your household, especially if you have small children.
This gardener looks like he takes the job seriously, perhaps down to counting every petal before the royal table is set. Still, there is a softness in the tilt of his head, as if he would happily put down the basket for a game of fetch across the palace lawn.
