Caught red-handed
For a while now, I’ve been noticing that the succulents in this planter are losing leaves at an alarming rate:
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What used to be a relatively lush grouping of sedums, aeoniums, and friends has become a place of sadness:
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My once proud Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ reduced to nubbins:
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I’d been putting the blame on rats because, well, because they’re my go-to scapegoats and always up to no good. But I was wrong. I finally caught the culprit in the act:
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Here it is, merrily chewing on a Senecio ‘Skyscraper’:
It stopped momentarily when it saw me, but then it continued nibbling with no care in the world. Only when I got to within three feet did it scamper away.
Here’s what’s left of Senecio ‘Skyscraper’:
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Ha! When I saw the title of this post, I thought you were going to mention running into Tracy at the RBG and buying lots and lots of plants.
ReplyDeleteTrue enough!
DeleteWhat an adventure. There must be some sort of Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys tie in here for the plant world. The squirrel was definitely not who I thought would be the culprit. We've got a little bun bun running around the yard this fall. I'm on the warpath.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have bunnies or deer, but lots of rats and squirrels.
DeleteCongratulations on your future multi-headed Aeonium and many many new senecio! Time to use that spiffy greenhouse! But, ugh, I so know your pain! I've had so much damaged, dug up, or eaten. (I had one for a while whose deal was digging out tags. Every semp tag is gone. I've ceded victory on that one. Now I just buy by color when they die out.)
ReplyDeleteIt wears a bit.
Btw, they loooove tulips. Are your bulbs OK?
LOL, I hadn't even thought of the "benefits" -- a multiheaded Aeonium 'Sunburst'.
DeleteMy tags disappear, too. Do squirrels use the material to make nests? The plastic isn't exactly comfortable to lie on.
Tulip bulbs are OK, they're buried in the ground.
Oh, a cute little squirrel! Such fun! I am glad you are letting this little animal do his thing! I was afraid you were going to stop him somehow! Proved me wrong, thank goodness!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't kill a squirrel. Heck, I can't even kill a rat in cold blood :-)
DeleteI was convinced the culprit was a dirty rat!
ReplyDeleteRats and squirrels, the same thing in my mind!
DeleteWe are overrun with grey squirrels here (escapees from the Calgary Zoon in the 1940's). Around here we call them 'rats with tails' as they do a lot of damage. They can be seen everywhere, running along power lines, fences, on the ground and up into trees. Cute but destructive little beggars. There are humane sprays on the market that make plants taste bad. In my experience they work very well. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Calgary Zoo? You mean they kept squirrels in the zoo?
DeleteI like your attitude regarding this little squirrel, they are a part of the ecosystem. I try to relax when I see this kind of damage in the garden. I can live with it, as long as it not done by rats.
ReplyDeleteOh, and that asian pagoda next to the pot! I love its simplicity. Gorgeous.
Chavli
I try to live and let live. That doesn't make I don't get annoyed :-)
DeleteSquirrels eat succulents?! Say it isn't so! I don't know why I'm surprised as they eat everything else.
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I'd giggle, but I know it can be frustrating. For me, it's usually the rabbits that eat the plants...down to the ground. The squirrels and chipmunks dig and rearrange. I have trouble accepting the rabbits (unless there's a fox or a coyote around to keep their numbers in check). But the squirrels and chipmunks...don't bring quite as much damage (here anyway)...so meh, they're OK.
ReplyDelete