A NOTE TO THE WHOLE FAMILY
A Pet Garden is a happy place, unlike a grave, which can be a sad, somber place.
It is a celebration of your pet’s life and your love for him or her. Designing it, planting it, making things for it, and above all, keeping it well-tended, is sure to help kids and parents alike in dealing with the grief of missing a much-loved pet.
A few pointers:
Above all, plant only what you can maintain. If you are pressed for time or have little faith in yourself as a gardener, plant only a few shrubs and plants that grow well in your area.
Plant perennials (plants that come back every year) and shrubs, even a small tree.
Plant annuals (plants that last one year) at the front of the garden or in pots for easy replacement next year.
No need to go overboard with plantings. A simple arbor, garden ornaments, a bird bath and pavers fill lots of space. Plants expand as they grow.
And, of course, fill in the bare spots with pine BARK chips or mulch.
HEY, KIDS:
Caring for a Pet Garden is a lot like caring for a pet:
It needs water, food, an occasional trim and your attention. Keeping your Pet Garden in beautiful shape is your way of showing your pet how much you still love him, and how thankful you are for all the fun he gave you.
It’s also a great way to show Mom and Dad how well you can take care of another pet in the near future!
Pull a few weeds every day . Water the plants and the bird bath. Scatter some birdseed around. And soon, you will see how much life your pet and you can keep…
Together…
Forever.
HOW TO PLANT A PET GARDEN
1. Take a walk together around your neighborhood and look at the trees, shrubs, and plants you see. If many people have them, and they are healthy, chances are good that they will fare well in your Pet Garden.
2. Note if the plants you like best are in sun or shade, and plan your garden accordingly.
3. It’s nice to lay out your garden on paper before you plant. (See last page of this book for a sample). However, it’s not necessary, since you may add plants and garden novelties later .
4. Visit your local nursery and ask questions. Usually there is a garden savvy expert who will give you helpful tips. Your local agricultural extension center can also be a great source of free advice.
5. Choose the spot and dig up any weeds or grass. Add fresh dirt and mix it all together so that your new plants will have a healthy, long life.
I. Trees and Shrubs
Start big, near the back or the center of the space you have chosen.
Plant a small tree.
Plant smaller bushes in front of and around the tree.
Flowering trees and bushes attract birds and butterflies, who love to drink the nectar from their blooms.
Trees with fruits, nuts, and blooms that squirrels and birds love include:
Oak Crabapple Apple
Walnut Hickory Plum
Trees and shrubs birds love to build nests in include any of the above and:
Pine Fir
Holly Juniper
II. Ornamental Grasses
Some birds love to build nests in tall masses of grass. Grasses are usually easy to grow, inexpensive, and create a beautiful, natural border around the garden. Two that grow easily:
Pampas grass
Liriope (Monkey Grass)
III. A Few Easy Additions
Stone and resin sculptures of piglets, frogs, turtles, rabbits and other wildlife add whimsy to your garden.
To add depth, it’s nice to pot a flowering or colorful plant that was in your yard or patio area when your pet was alive. Flowers and plants with similar names to your pet can be a way of letting him or her live on, too. A few suggestions:
Woody- Dogwood; sweet woodruff Glory- Gloriosa Daisy
Bucky- Bottle Brush Buckeye Penny- Pennyroyal
Dusty- Dusty Miller Sargeant- Sargeant Juniper
Elmo- Wild rye (Elymus spp.) Coco- Coconut palm
For any floppy-eared friend, consider:
Lamb’s ears Joseph’s Coat
Sunflowers Snow-on-the-Mountain
Blanket flower Swan River Daisy
Other suggestions:
Labrador violet Phlox (for a sheepdog or curly-haired pup)
Catmint Spotted or Striped plants
Persian epimedium Any large, leafy plant that “wags” when the wind blows
So…
Plant, keep it well-watered and trim away any dead branches or blooms. If any plants die, replace them as soon as possible with something else.
And, of course…
DON’T FORGET THE BARK CHIPS!
Your Pet Garden Planner
My Favorite Plants: Supply List: To Do:
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ _____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ _____________ _____________
A Small Garden is nice, too!
Suggestions for a Window Sill Pet Garden:
Suncatchers
Paint-Your-Own Planters
Mini Birdhouses
Ceramic Ornaments
Little figurines and statues of dogs, cats, frogs, turtles, etc.
& Potted Plants to stick them in.
How to Make Your Pet Garden Sign
The Cardinal Rule in making the sign for your Pet Garden is to use materials that will stand up to outdoor weather.
You will need:
~ Paper to practice on
~ Two Small pieces of light-colored wood, such as Pine or Balsa Wood, shaped like a sign (An extra one, just in case!)
~ Paint Markers
~ Wood Glue (such as Elmer’s WOOD G;lue)
~ A stick or yardstick to use as your sign post
~ A Fine Point Permanent Black Marker OR Black Ball Point INK Pen, medium point
~ Colorful INK pens
~ Small jar of light-colored wood stain
~ Small jar of clear topcoat OR Clear Gloss Spray Paint
You might need or want:
~ Letter Stencils
~ Stamps and Ink Pads
~ Sponge shapes
~ Paper Towels to clean up with and Newspaper to work on
How to Make a Pet Garden Sign
1. On the paper, trace the shape of your sign. Sketch or stamp or stencil what you would like the final sign to look like.
2. If you want your sign to be a color, now is the time to paint it and let it dry. Otherwise, natural is nice, too.
3. Now, copy your sign design IN PENCIL onto the wooden sign:
4. Start with the words. For example:
SKIPPY’S GARDEN
And design your sign around the words.
SKIPPY’S GARDEN
5. Trace over the letters with the Permanent Marker OR Black Ball Point Pen. It’s OK if it’s not perfect. Slightly crooked letters are a nice touch.
6. Draw, paint, stencil or stamp on the rest.
Simple designs stand out the most. If you are making a more detailed design, paint markers and colored ink pens work well and last a long time.
REMEMBER: It’s not important to make your sign design look exactly like your paper picture. Any mistakes can become paw prints, ladybugs, daisies, or a leafy border.
Some of the world’s best ideas were “fixed mistakes”!
7. Once you’re done, wait a day for the ink to dry and then rub some stain over the whole thing…gently.
8. With Mom or Dad’s help, apply a clear gloss to protect it from the weather.
9. Glue the stick onto the back of the yardstick. Let it dry lying down with a book on top. Then stick it in the middle of your Pet Garden.
HEY, KIDS:
Caring for a Pet Garden is a lot like caring for a pet:
It needs water, food, an occasional trim and your attention. Keeping your Pet Garden in beautiful shape is your way of showing your pet how much you still love him, and how thankful you are for all the fun he gave you.
It’s also a great way to show Mom and Dad how well you can take care of another pet in the near future!
Pull a few weeds every day . Water the plants and the bird bath. Scatter some birdseed around. And soon, you will see how much life your pet and you can keep…
Together…
Forever.
A Pet Garden is a happy place, unlike a grave, which can be a sad, somber place.
It is a celebration of your pet’s life and your love for him or her. Designing it, planting it, making things for it, and above all, keeping it well-tended, is sure to help kids and parents alike in dealing with the grief of missing a much-loved pet.
A few pointers:
Above all, plant only what you can maintain. If you are pressed for time or have little faith in yourself as a gardener, plant only a few shrubs and plants that grow well in your area.
Plant perennials (plants that come back every year) and shrubs, even a small tree.
Plant annuals (plants that last one year) at the front of the garden or in pots for easy replacement next year.
No need to go overboard with plantings. A simple arbor, garden ornaments, a bird bath and pavers fill lots of space. Plants expand as they grow.
And, of course, fill in the bare spots with pine BARK chips or mulch.
HEY, KIDS:
Caring for a Pet Garden is a lot like caring for a pet:
It needs water, food, an occasional trim and your attention. Keeping your Pet Garden in beautiful shape is your way of showing your pet how much you still love him, and how thankful you are for all the fun he gave you.
It’s also a great way to show Mom and Dad how well you can take care of another pet in the near future!
Pull a few weeds every day . Water the plants and the bird bath. Scatter some birdseed around. And soon, you will see how much life your pet and you can keep…
Together…
Forever.
HOW TO PLANT A PET GARDEN
1. Take a walk together around your neighborhood and look at the trees, shrubs, and plants you see. If many people have them, and they are healthy, chances are good that they will fare well in your Pet Garden.
2. Note if the plants you like best are in sun or shade, and plan your garden accordingly.
3. It’s nice to lay out your garden on paper before you plant. (See last page of this book for a sample). However, it’s not necessary, since you may add plants and garden novelties later .
4. Visit your local nursery and ask questions. Usually there is a garden savvy expert who will give you helpful tips. Your local agricultural extension center can also be a great source of free advice.
5. Choose the spot and dig up any weeds or grass. Add fresh dirt and mix it all together so that your new plants will have a healthy, long life.
I. Trees and Shrubs
Start big, near the back or the center of the space you have chosen.
Plant a small tree.
Plant smaller bushes in front of and around the tree.
Flowering trees and bushes attract birds and butterflies, who love to drink the nectar from their blooms.
Trees with fruits, nuts, and blooms that squirrels and birds love include:
Oak Crabapple Apple
Walnut Hickory Plum
Trees and shrubs birds love to build nests in include any of the above and:
Pine Fir
Holly Juniper
II. Ornamental Grasses
Some birds love to build nests in tall masses of grass. Grasses are usually easy to grow, inexpensive, and create a beautiful, natural border around the garden. Two that grow easily:
Pampas grass
Liriope (Monkey Grass)
III. A Few Easy Additions
Stone and resin sculptures of piglets, frogs, turtles, rabbits and other wildlife add whimsy to your garden.
To add depth, it’s nice to pot a flowering or colorful plant that was in your yard or patio area when your pet was alive. Flowers and plants with similar names to your pet can be a way of letting him or her live on, too. A few suggestions:
Woody- Dogwood; sweet woodruff Glory- Gloriosa Daisy
Bucky- Bottle Brush Buckeye Penny- Pennyroyal
Dusty- Dusty Miller Sargeant- Sargeant Juniper
Elmo- Wild rye (Elymus spp.) Coco- Coconut palm
For any floppy-eared friend, consider:
Lamb’s ears Joseph’s Coat
Sunflowers Snow-on-the-Mountain
Blanket flower Swan River Daisy
Other suggestions:
Labrador violet Phlox (for a sheepdog or curly-haired pup)
Catmint Spotted or Striped plants
Persian epimedium Any large, leafy plant that “wags” when the wind blows
So…
Plant, keep it well-watered and trim away any dead branches or blooms. If any plants die, replace them as soon as possible with something else.
And, of course…
DON’T FORGET THE BARK CHIPS!
Your Pet Garden Planner
My Favorite Plants: Supply List: To Do:
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ _____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ ____________ _____________
_____________ _____________ _____________
A Small Garden is nice, too!
Suggestions for a Window Sill Pet Garden:
Suncatchers
Paint-Your-Own Planters
Mini Birdhouses
Ceramic Ornaments
Little figurines and statues of dogs, cats, frogs, turtles, etc.
& Potted Plants to stick them in.
How to Make Your Pet Garden Sign
The Cardinal Rule in making the sign for your Pet Garden is to use materials that will stand up to outdoor weather.
You will need:
~ Paper to practice on
~ Two Small pieces of light-colored wood, such as Pine or Balsa Wood, shaped like a sign (An extra one, just in case!)
~ Paint Markers
~ Wood Glue (such as Elmer’s WOOD G;lue)
~ A stick or yardstick to use as your sign post
~ A Fine Point Permanent Black Marker OR Black Ball Point INK Pen, medium point
~ Colorful INK pens
~ Small jar of light-colored wood stain
~ Small jar of clear topcoat OR Clear Gloss Spray Paint
You might need or want:
~ Letter Stencils
~ Stamps and Ink Pads
~ Sponge shapes
~ Paper Towels to clean up with and Newspaper to work on
How to Make a Pet Garden Sign
1. On the paper, trace the shape of your sign. Sketch or stamp or stencil what you would like the final sign to look like.
2. If you want your sign to be a color, now is the time to paint it and let it dry. Otherwise, natural is nice, too.
3. Now, copy your sign design IN PENCIL onto the wooden sign:
4. Start with the words. For example:
SKIPPY’S GARDEN
And design your sign around the words.
SKIPPY’S GARDEN
5. Trace over the letters with the Permanent Marker OR Black Ball Point Pen. It’s OK if it’s not perfect. Slightly crooked letters are a nice touch.
6. Draw, paint, stencil or stamp on the rest.
Simple designs stand out the most. If you are making a more detailed design, paint markers and colored ink pens work well and last a long time.
REMEMBER: It’s not important to make your sign design look exactly like your paper picture. Any mistakes can become paw prints, ladybugs, daisies, or a leafy border.
Some of the world’s best ideas were “fixed mistakes”!
7. Once you’re done, wait a day for the ink to dry and then rub some stain over the whole thing…gently.
8. With Mom or Dad’s help, apply a clear gloss to protect it from the weather.
9. Glue the stick onto the back of the yardstick. Let it dry lying down with a book on top. Then stick it in the middle of your Pet Garden.
HEY, KIDS:
Caring for a Pet Garden is a lot like caring for a pet:
It needs water, food, an occasional trim and your attention. Keeping your Pet Garden in beautiful shape is your way of showing your pet how much you still love him, and how thankful you are for all the fun he gave you.
It’s also a great way to show Mom and Dad how well you can take care of another pet in the near future!
Pull a few weeds every day . Water the plants and the bird bath. Scatter some birdseed around. And soon, you will see how much life your pet and you can keep…
Together…
Forever.
