I was gifted a fountain from some neighbors who just moved to Washington...they wanted me to have it because my last two huskies, Malukhai and Anuschka used to have so much fun with it before they died last year and my current huskies, Kohdi and Mishka continuing the tradition They told me "it belongs" to me. I got it home and mostly because I'm still having an extremely difficult time getting some kind of closure with the deaths of Malukhai and Anuschka, I've decided to make it an area dedicated to them, something thats part of the place they called home, while still allowing Kohdi and Mishka to make their own memories with it. So here are some pics...its not all finished yet but I have the "foundation" down, and now its just a matter of getting more plants in there. First I'd like to post a pic of Malukhai and Anuschka, the reason behind this project.

This is Anuschka...my lil girl, who passed away April 27, 2013...April 27 was also her birthday

And this is Malukhai...my best bud Malukhai passed away April 9, 2013, just 2 1/2 weeks before Anuschka

And here is the fountain, haha...I basically chose this location cuz its right at the front door, its where I can hear and see it from my room, where Kohdi and Mishka have access to it when they leave and come home from walks. And because its at the entry to the house

I created a small random stone path, so Kohdi stops dragging mud in the house, haha...since the soil level was higher than the sidewalk, I tiered the area so the path is level with the walkway, and then added broken up rocks to create a small "wall" to keep the soil up above from washing down

This looks really good! I like how you did the walk way. Your Malukhai and Anuschka were beautiful!

I added this bench...its concrete like the fountain...I chose this style because its less limiting than one that has a seat back, meaning you can sit facing either way...behind it is a trellis planted with Star Jasmine for fragranc when it blooms...beside it in the corner is a plant called "Angel Trumpets" that has an intense fragrance at night...the plant name just seemed fitting for this "memorial".

pic of the front...I planted impatiens along the bottom, and in the pots on either side of the fountain...begonias and some other stuff behind it. Impatiens are a favorite of mine

Thank you Cindy!!! it'll look better when its done...I hope, haha

Some pics of the plants I'm planting...this one I saw at the nursury and thought it looked cool!!! so I bought it...very colorful and unique

I planted two of these along the broken walk...I like them cuz of their wispy foilag and these arching fronds that can hang down over the rock, softening the edges...with peach(?) colored blossoms

A pink Bromlade ( that spelling just not not look right, haha)...its planted in a planter behind the fountain so its behind the falling water of the fountain

Coreopsis...only thing I dont really care for is the denseness of the plant...I prefer a lil more wispy/see thru foilage...its pretty though

The Angel Trumpet bloom...the plant itself has variegated leaves, and these flowers smell SO good

Another frontal view...if u look closely you can see Kohdi bored to death behind the door, haha

Last pic for now...just shows a few more boulders placed ( I LOVE rock, just gives the landscape a certain something)

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This is a really beautiful memorial. It has come together so well and has a real professional look to it. I imagine it must be so peaceful there and to have neighbors that recognized the significance of the fountain for you is so rare. It's going to be a great place for new memories.

I so love this project!! Everything is just beautiful, like your first two, a very fitting memorial. Lol at Kohdi. I love rocks as well, gives depth, 3D aspect to a garden. You really out did yourself on this. I hope this project and sharing with us has helped you. Maluhhai and Anuschka were splendid and the two you are currently growing up are equally beautiful. Thank you for sharing, as difficult as it was. I can picture sitting there and enjoying a California breeze, with a lush smell of blooming flowers.

Renee

I thank you Jenn and Renee, your messages actually made my eyes tear.

@ Jenn, Its the perfect place for some peacefulness, I put a lot of thought into it...to paint a bigger picture, this area is like the "courtyard" of the house...its seperated for the most part from the actual street front yard. On the other side of the walk is a larger yard with a large shade tree, I made a "dry river" that runs thru it (it is California afterall, haha) with pathways with the same type of random stone and a bird feedr and birdbath etc... I wanted a natural type of look and its worked so far The neighbors are awesome people, truly one of a kind. The husband actually drove with me the 13 hours to pick up both Kohdi and Mishka...they were so saddened when I had to tell them first of Malukhai, then of Anuschka. With Anuschka, they had visited her on their porch where the fountain was just hours before she passed away...as we left Anuschka stopped and looked back at them and we all looked at each other kind of perplexed...in a way it was like she knew she'd be seeing them for a last time, it was very strange.

@ Renee...of course I thank you, I really appreciate it. My plans are to choose plants that bloom at times throughout the year, so there is always some color. I also chose planter pots too flank the fountain so I can change them out with the seasons, like maybe at Christmastime, I'll put some small evergreen/fir type "trees", stuff like that It just needs to stop being so hot here, lol...its 95 today w/humidity and im miserable anyways with a fever/cough/runny nose

What you just said made me so sad, I know that husky look. Uggggg. This is to be a happy thing, remember that. You really did put your heart and soul into this project. Can't wait to see more pics, and get well soon!

I'm sorry Renee, didn't mean to make you sad. Without knowing it was her last day, there were many things (like getting to visit with these neighbors a last time) that went her way that day...thats the way I have to keep looking at it.

And thank you!! I stayed home today to hopefully get better...Kohdi and Mishka are happy about that, haha...they won't let me sleep though

Artic_Wind wrote:

Coreopsis...only thing I dont really care for is the denseness of the plant...I prefer a lil more wispy/see thru foilage...its pretty though

As that plant grows and expands, it will become much more wispy and see through - it's a thread leaf coreopsis...one of my favorites!

I am so sorry for the loss of your two dogs.

Thank you Amy

It is a beautiful plant/flower...good to know it won't stay so dense...I already saw myself lacing it out to make it what I want it to be, haha. I planted another type of Coreopsis in there as well, they have a yellow flower but theyre not blooming yet and the plant itself looks much different.

I love the project you are building, i am so sorry you lost your 2 so close together but this area is a wonder remembrance of them. that fountain is really cool.

Thank you so much Jennifer. All 4 dogs love/ed this fountain for whatever reason...lil Mishka has actually climbed in it, haha, and Malukhai would dunk his entire head in it, Kohdi just drinks from it but normally where the water "falls" so he kinda ends up with a wet head and looking at me like all confused that he drank with his mouth but his head and ears got soaked, haha...Anuschka was the lil lady, drinking from it very delicately. I think every husky household should have a fountain

Artic_Wind wrote:

Thank you Amy

It is a beautiful plant/flower...good to know it won't stay so dense...I already saw myself lacing it out to make it what I want it to be, haha. I planted another type of Coreopsis in there as well, they have a yellow flower but theyre not blooming yet and the plant itself looks much different.

Yup - many varieties of coreopsis. We have a yellow threadleaf called Zagreb that I love. I did have moonglow but it died. Zagreb, unless moved, is at risk now - next to Ami's trolley line.