Dogwood and Catnip: Living Tributes to Pets We Have Loved and Lost

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Approach to Memorializing a Beloved Pet
Review: Recovering from the loss of a beloved pet takes a lot of time and tears. Counselors in this field have always recognized that there are some special activities that can help the healing process. One of the most successful of these is the creation of a special garden of memory for a beloved deceased pet.
Dogwood & Catnip is a unique book that offers bereaving pet owners a new approach to creating a memorial. Its monochrome illustrations beautifully compliment the individual stories that comprise part of this book. They tell how each person was helped by planting a garden, tree, plant, or even a memorial stone in the yard.
This book offers an undertaking that would be a unique tribute, creating a beautiful and peaceful personal refuge, with an aura of peace and remembrance.
The layout includes many profound and pertinent quotations, in the margins. The book follows through on the author's previous publication, A Garden of Love and Healing (which was also favorably reviewed in our newsletter). It also features a section listing many plants, with explanations of their traditional unique symbolisms. This is a gentle guide for the novice gardener, as well as the experienced.
Going back to nature we can find beauties and healings we don't usually experience in our "normal" daily lives. A memorial garden or section can become a personal spiritual oasis - a place of serenity, reflection and special remembrance. Whether or not one has the time or ability to create a garden or just put in a single special plant, this book can help. As the author indicates, the psychological significance of greenery symbolizes a compassionate heart that is ready to bloom again. It is a welcoming back, and a reverence for life.
There are many ways to memorialize a beloved pet, and of course, the best memorial is always in one's heart. But the recommendations and love expressed in this publication are unique and wonderful. We recommend Dogwood and Catnip, and feel sure that it can fill an important part of your bookshelf.