The Furry (and Fabled) Team
First, there is Molu.
The best farm dog ever!
She’s an amazing farm dog. She takes her job of running all wildlife out of the yard and flower beds very seriously. Being such a high energy dog who watches everything that moves, Molu is very well-suited to this job. Not only do I not have a deer problem because of her, I have no groundhogs, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks or birds eating my decorative berries either. She even digs up the moles and voles if she sees the ground move or gets a whiff of one. So, the bulbs are safe too!
Gentle, loyal, and observant.
Jojo is the more thoughtful of the two, while Molu runs on pure instinct and adrenaline. If there’s an animal I’d like to keep on the farm—like a snake or turtle—I can call Jojo off easily, and he’ll stop right away. Molu, on the other hand, listens to her instincts first and questions later. When something wild wanders too close, she’s gone in a flash, charging after it without a second thought for what it is or how big it might be. Together, they balance each other beautifully—Jojo’s calm thinking and Molu’s fearless drive make them an unbeatable team.
And, there is Jojo.
Next up, Alice and Ariel.
The first pair.
Ariel and Alice, were rescues from the SPCA I adopted when they were about a year old. Suspected to be sisters they were caged together and regularly groomed each other. Ariel is the bold shadow in the garden. She’s fierce, independent, and always nearby—often tucked under the plants, softly meowing to remind me she’s keeping watch. Alice is the shy heart of the pair. She startles easily but secretly loves affection, always inching closer for an ear scratch once she decides you’re safe.
The mouse-hunting twins.
And then Lucy and Yoda.
These two came from another farmer whose barn cat trained her kittens under a peach tree, teaching them how to stalk and pounce before they were even weaned. That early education shows—Lucy and Yoda are fierce, clever, and completely in sync. They patrol the barns and fields like a well-rehearsed team, keeping every shed and storage space blissfully mouse-free. When the day’s work is done, you’ll usually find them sunning themselves on the porch, perfectly content with a job well done.
"I MusT Have FloweRs, Always, aNd Always."
—Claude Monet
ONE WOMAN aNd
THE FOUR-LEGGED HELP
From the time I was young, I’ve wanted to farm—and now I do. That’s the short version.
The long version winds through many places and seasons, from oasis farming at the edge of the Sahara to working soil right here in West Virginia. I’ve always loved growing things, and when I bought my farm in 2016, flowers simply made sense. The land is generous, and after years of tending our church gardens and designing arrangements from what I grew, I realized how much I loved the process—hands in the soil, blooms in a bucket, beauty taking shape one stem at a time.
In the early days, it was just me doing everything—planting, harvesting, arranging, selling—but over time, the team has grown. I’ve now got more help of the human variety, but the four-legged crew still holds MVP status. They save me countless hours and expenses: no need for deer fences or pest control programs when you’ve got good farm dogs on duty. Thanks to them, the deer, rabbits, and groundhogs keep to the edges, and the flowers thrive in peace.
First crop of lupines ever!
Finally, there is Lenten, Leo, and Ra-ra.
Lenten is my model: a coal-black beauty with a long, flowing mane and tail, and about the worst nature possible for a horse. He’s moody, but every move he makes looks like it belongs in a painting, so he earns his keep as the photogenic one. Leo is the gentle giant of the group, marked by a bold white stripe down his face. He’s kind, steady, and handsome in his own right, even if he hasn’t quite mastered Lenten’s flair for the camera.Then there’s Ra-Ra—slender, willowy, and just a touch mischievous. He has a way of subtly bossing the other two around, but beneath it all, he’s sweet-natured and easy to love.
Together, these three serve two important purposes: they supply me with the best compost material a flower farmer could ask for, and they soothe my soul. When the day feels too hectic, I head to the barn, breathe in the quiet, and let the sound of them munching hay melt the stress right out of me.
