Ken Matthews Garden Center Dog Days, Yorktown, VA

Today and tomorrow are Dog Days at Ken Matthews Garden Center in Yorktown, VA. Throughout the garden center there are various dog rescue groups and the Peninsula Pet Pantry. There was a silent auction. And lots of sales!

Naked butt PG at the sign, ready to go in the door. She waits patiently for the little black dog to come out.

Sammy enjoyed going through the garden center, looking into the gazing ball. Do you think he was telling the future or making a wish?

PG got a few drinks at the various fountains in the center. Maybe we need one of these in the backyard by the grape arbor.

Everyone at the garden center is very friendly and loved the dogs blingy collars. I think dogs are allowed and welcome in there at all times--but this one weekend every summer they invite in all the rescue groups and do the fundraising for local pet charities.

Wish you were here,
Joyce
Sammy & PG

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Fidos After 5, Richmond, VA

Once a month during the summer, Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens opens up the gardens for people to bring along their dogs in the evenings. It's called Fidos After 5.

They also have wine tastings, serve food at an outdoor tent and have a band. Tonight it was California night and they were serving California wines.

They have free blankets for the dogs to lay on. Although Sammy didn't want to lay on the same blanket with PG!

We walked through the gardens after we finished eating and drinking. It was hot but there was a breeze and we really enjoyed the gardens.

Wish you were here,
Joyce
Sammy & PG

Sandy Bottom Nature Park, Hampton, VA

This evening we went to Sandy Bottom Nature Park in Hampton. This is a beautiful park to take a walk in. There are a number of trails from about a mile long to five miles long--so you can take a short walk or a long one. We usually go on the Lake Trail--which goes around Sandy Bottom Lake for about a mile.

This is a nice shady walk with lots of interesting things to see. There is a wildlife rehabilitation area that is home to a blind deer.

You do have to watch for snakes. I've walked here for years and I've only ever seen one snake. It wanted to get away from us as much as we wanted to get away from him!

There are a couple little bridges. You can see turtles and birds in the lake. There is also a shady dog park at this park--but I'm not crazy about dog parks. So I usually just walk the dogs on the trails and skip the dog park.

There are some quirky things at this park, too. There is a little flower garden with some flower pot people!

And finally, Sammy and PG's favorite part of this park--there is a small "beach" where the dogs can wade into the lake. Sammy usually jumps and splashes like a little kid in the first puddles of spring!

Wish you were here!
Joyce
Sammy & PG