Beware! Beanbag is the garden guard

He works hard and he plays hard. But unlike other members of the University he does not study, he does not teach and he does not administrate. But he does sleep into the late afternoon. Beanbag -- the six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who guards the Morris Arboretum's rose bed -- celebrated his first anniversary last week between guard duty shifts and frolicking in the greenhouse. The dog, which is an Arboretum celebrity, was purchased in May, 1991 to protect the roses from being eaten by deer. Beanbag was hired after a bad 1990 season when Arboretum officials said nearly 90 percent of the blooms were eaten. "Why grow flowers if deer will eat them," Chief Horticulturist Judy McKeon said yesterday. "We tried every deterrent to protect the garden -- soap, hair, nets -- nothing would work." Following a deserved slumber in his extra-large doghouse, commonly called "the condo," Beanbag roams the grounds digging for moles, lying in the sun, or protecting the greenhouse. The condo is equipped with a monogrammed L.L. Bean beanbag for his comfort. At 4 p.m. members of the Arboretum's staff find Beanbag among the 90 acre park and put him in rosebud garden where he automatically assumes guard. Beanbag remains alert until 8 a.m. the next morning to deter deer from "mowing" the buds, according to McKeon. In the event of thunder or heavy winds during Beanbag's duty, the tri-color, smooth hair canine finds shelter in his "summer house" -- a smaller doghouse used all year long and stationed in the rose garden. In addition to McKeon, consultant Bill Braxton was hired to train Beanbag numerous skills to keep him within the rosebud bounds, McKeon said. For asthetic purposes there is no fence around the garden, but an electronic "invisible fence" prohibits Beanbag from wandering astray. Beanbag's breed is intended for show purposes only, but since his parent's were hunting dogs the kennel owners thought the instinct would follow, McKeon added. Beanbag, his training, room and board and other expenses were paid by a private donation. The Arboretum is managed by the University. "He keeps the roses growing," said Bob Anderson, the director of physical plant and facilities. McKeon said almost all of the rose buds will blossom because of Beanbag's efforts. But there was one setback earlier this month when Beanbag had skin irritation that was treated with cortisone and altered his sleep habits. Beanbag received additional training to correct the problem.