Critter Ridder to the Rescue



You too could maybe, possibly be rid of your critters!

As previously discussed, we have a woodchuck problem.  A very hungry woodchuck problem. We have explored many options and have tried to come to terms with what we are able to do and still be able to sleep at night.  We are big animal lovers, so having them "taken out" just breaks our hearts. Relocating is generally just as bad, as it takes the animal away from its home and it has a very low rate of survival.  Plus, if you relocate, you have to catch the animal (or in this case, three animals -- mama and her two fat babies) in a trap, put them in your car and take them to an undisclosed location.  And then they probably pee in your car.  All of this is sort of illegal in Mass. too, as relocating an animal can take their disease (if they have one) and move it to an area that might not have that disease.  So this is more complicated than it should be.



See that tall plant there on the right? Yeah. That should have leaves and flowers.

I keep fantasizing that a fox or coyote or giant hawk will move into our neighborhood and take care of the issue naturally. I have no problem with that -- that's the circle of life. But in the meantime, we are experimenting with other ways to keep Alvin and the woodchucks out of our gardens. They have totally mowed down my pansies and petunias, and are working on the impatiens. We got this Critter Ridder stuff and it seems to sort of work in certain areas. I think it really depends on how much they like the plant.  If it's, "Meh, I wasn't really in the mood for petunias this morning anyway..." then it seems to work.  So it really depends on their moods. Brats.



I heart you, perennial garden.

It was bad enough when they were eating the annuals. But the perennials are expensive. (Though you buy perennials so that you don't have to buy more plants in the future. It rounds out.) This is my little perennial garden that I LOVE.  There is a place in Salisbury called Pettingills, and they have the most gorgeous plants and garden stuff ever.  Most of these plants are from there, as well as the iron dragonfly. Josh and I both spotted that and loved it, and now we have a trumpet vine growing up it.  Hopefully when that blossoms, it will be a hummingbird magnet. I have coral bells, foxgloves, twinleaf, mini irises, a rose bush, a peony dahlia (that's the big, red and delicious plant Alvin has been munching down on.) There's some salvia in there too, and some autumn clematis that I have to string up so it will climb. The shiny orb is a little mushroom that I got at Pettengills as well. Too cute.  I lined the garden with rocks that we've found around the yard, and I think it's a really cute edger.



Not Water Country for woodchucks!


We went to an amazing craft and antique fair at Pettengills last weekend -- my mind was officially blown. (And I have been to many a craft/antique fair in my day, let me tell you.)  There was some amazingly gorgeous stuff there.  As a special treat, I got this glass bird bath for the perennial garden. The artist basically takes abandoned, colorful dishes and turns them into yard art! I'm sort of obsessed with it. I can't imagine they are that hard to make -- just get some super duper strong epoxy and glue dishes together. But the end result is incredibly beautiful! I haven't seen any birds in it yet, but I'd better not see any woodchucks doing a backstroke in there either.



Not yet eaten by woodchucks. I don't think they like the thorns.


I'll leave you with this photo -- my rosebush! Such a beautiful blossom. The roses are a mixed pink/peach that goes really well with the rest of the colors in the yard. I am normally a bright red, bright everything sort of person, but the plants in our back yard are very tropical in color. It makes me think of all our vacations we have been on, and the colors that I had in my wedding bouquet. I'm not normally sentimental like that, but it's our first home and first garden. Those seem to be our happy colors!