I was busy last week, planting out hundreds of Spring bulbs. I had visions of a wonderful display of tulips like those I saw at RHS Wisley earlier this year. Just gorgeous!
So I broke my back and a trowel, digging down deep into the clay soil to put out my lovely new selection of blooms. It took me two days, and I was pretty chuffed after I'd finished, sat back, rubbed my hands and thought 'Job well done'. Hmm, it never does to be complacent as a gardener does it, because when I came out the morning after, a certain something had dug a good proportion of them up. Eaten some, discarded half munched others. I could have cried. Oh alright, I did shed a little tear. I'm sure you've already guessed who was responsible.
Oh, they look cute, and most of the year I can rub along with them, even after they've broken three birdfeeders, knocked over the birdtable twice and generally rummaged all over my plants. But grrrrr, my bulbs...really, when you're fed and pampered all year round!! Squirrel family, this is war! Stick war.
Not the most attractive option, but it's partly working. I ran out of sticks and they managed to get into one little patch, and they also burrowed under the strawberry netting that I thought would be the most secure option, but the other areas are untouched. Sigh. I'm hoping when I start putting my yearly bark mulch down they'll be deterred a little, but I'm not holding out much hope. Maybe I'll need to leave the sticks in until Spring? I'm guessing I've never had this problem before as my garden is usually so jam packed with plants there's no room for them to dig. This year, after my revamp, there are lots of bare areas and I guess that is heaven for a squirrel.
Here's hoping I still get some beautiful Tulips next Spring like these stunners from Wisley.
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