Kerria

I love this yellow flower against the garden fence at my sister-in-law's. We arrived back with them yesterday after our sortie to Devon, and stop one more night. To add to the mourning of the elderly aunt, yesterday they said goodbye to their darling dog Ollie. He was eighteen years old, which is a great age for a Labrador-sized Labradoodle, when his time ran out. We imagine aunt and dog together.

It's over twenty years since our dog died, but I remember the feeling of loss only too well. We're also experiencing it afresh as we, too, loved gentle Ollie. 20+ years ago when our dog died I planted a kerria in her memory, but sadly it didn't survive. Perhaps it's time to try again? A yellow flowering bush in memory of our yellow dog - three-parts Labrador, one part Ridgeback. Perhaps she and Ollie will meet in doggy-heaven.