Sorry to break it to you, dear future Garden, but some possible, uh, challenges have been spotted...
I have spotted Bunnies nibbling away at the wildflowers in the yard on several occasions. The reason this particular Bunny looks so happy? He knows a Garden is coming.
Yep, that would be a Deer. Right in the back yard. Eating something. (Please let it not be the blueberry bushes I planted back there!)
And the neighbor has seen a Groundhog on several occasions.
That might explain all those large holes in the ground back there.
She's also found a 4 foot long Snake skin. In a tree.
(Yes, I know that the snake is actually not harmful to you, dear Garden, but it's still a challenge. Have you ever wanted to know how little gardening gets done when the now fearful Gardener is constantly looking up?)
Just what we needed. More Rodents. This one seems to be of the Chipmunk variety.
And..
oh, no, could it be?
...
 |
| MUWAHAHAHA! |
Aaahhhhhh! It's the New England division of Squirrels!!!
We're in trouble..
(for more information about these seemingly innocent Squirrels, please read my Mission Impossible: Squirrel Division post.)
Gee, Indie, why'd you move to the woods? I live in a rural area but even I don't have deer. Or ground hogs. An occasional rabbit, snake, countless lizards and squirrels but no deer. Guess you gonna hafta do some research on persuading those deer to munch elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even think we were that much in the woods - my little patch of woods is surrounded by houses! Maybe that's why all the critters in the area are concentrated in my back yard!
DeleteOh boy.....look at all the critters. I hate to admit it, but we have our run ins with woodchucks, skunks, opossum, raccoons, rabbits, rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks and of course, deer. And once, a herd of buffalo. (They were really BIG close up.) The groundhog/woodchuck whatchamacallits are a real pain, they love to dig holes in the Quarry and the rocks start to shift and well, we have to take action. But a snake skin in a tree? That's a new one, and I would be looking up a LOT too!
ReplyDeleteI went and revisited your Mission Impossible post, oh, that is hilarious!
Holy cow, a herd of buffalo?! I'll bet they could do quite a bit of damage to a garden! I'm hoping against hope that the deer was a one-time stray that will never come back. And I'm rather hoping that the snake is a Granddaddy of a snake who is going to expire soon. After making sure my yard is clear of voles.
DeleteAnother hilarious posting, Indie. But I know it's not funny having to deal with all those critters -- and believe me, I have all of them. At least, so far, the snakes seem to remain under rocks, not up trees! P. x
ReplyDeleteI know, I keep finding myself scanning the trees around for anything moving. I hope that snake stays over in the neighbor's woods, and doesn't like to travel much!
DeleteThis gave me my laugh for the morning. Sorry it was at your expense, though. You have your work cut out for you. The squirrels were the kicker for me!
ReplyDeleteHa, I'm thinking I'm going to need some fencing...My poor future veggie garden is going to need to be in a wire box between the groundhog, the bunnies, and the deer! So far the squirrels haven't challenged the baffle on my bird feeder. We'll see what happens when winter comes and they get a little more desperate!
DeleteBut you must admit that they are very cute, Indie. I hope they won't cause you too much trouble.
ReplyDeleteTrue, they are cute now - they will probably be much less cute after something in the garden gets eaten! I hope they don't cause too much trouble, as well! I need some fencing...
DeleteI hope you are armed for battle next spring, Indie; this looks like a pretty strong opposing team! Just went back and read your post on the division of squirrels; thanks for my chuckle for the afternoon:)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm a little worried, especially if all of them gang up on me in the summer!
DeleteOh, Indie, you need to build a fortress around your garden! They might look cute and cuddly but I know from experience how much damage they all can do, good luck with the battle, don’t let them beat you!
ReplyDeleteMy lot is not really conducive to building a fence around the whole backyard, so we'll see what happens. My veggie garden is definitely getting some sort of fence, though!
DeleteGosh you haven't got skunks, wild turkeys, weasels or coyotes. You should be fine!!!
ReplyDeleteHa! I've seen wild turkeys down the road, and I hear they have coyotes and something called fisher cats in the next town over. I certainly hope they aren't drawn to my garden as well - I have enough critters to deal with!
DeleteOh, no! Not squirrels!!! Maybe the snakes will get them! :O
ReplyDeleteWell, since I've put up the bird feeders, the number of squirrels I've seen seem to be multiplying. That snake certainly isn't doing his job - if he's going to hang out around here, he needs to make himself useful! :)
DeleteWouldn't it be easier to convert your garden into a wildlife park? ;-)
ReplyDeleteOh boy! You have almost the whole gamut...I have deterred all but the woodchucks that we humanely trap and relocate...
ReplyDeleteOh yikes! I have all these guys and it's the rabbits that do the most damage. They can nibble things right to the ground - usually it's your favourite new perennials or shrubs. Read up on plants that critters do not care for and maybe plant those. Also - do you have a dog? That should scare them if you let him/her patrol the grounds. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteYes, your garden will have some challenges! Do your research so you don't plant deer and rodent candy, then hope for the best. I am just reading Astrid's comment above. A dog would certainly help! At least you don't have beavers. A friend of mine who lives next to a lake has to put chicken wire around the base of his trees to keep beavers from turning his prize specimens into beaver lodge logs!
ReplyDeleteOK... you need to build a moat around the new garden, a tall wall, barbed wire and hire a masked hitman (or woman!). It's your only hope.
ReplyDeleteWe have problems with deer, rabbits and squirrels and badgers here. But how amazing to have chipmunks, groundhogs and snakes. I think deer are the worst because you can't keep them out with a fence like you can rabbits. Mind you if I had snakes I think I'd have to give up gardening.
ReplyDeleteChloris