Have we created the ugliest garden in the world?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238317)
Walnut Creek, California
August 10, 2016 8:31pm CST
I'll attach a picture if Ground Squirrel Gardens, where three squash plants survive, and nothing else. My balcony plants are doing well. The garden at the preschool in Berkeley is beautiful, and making the littlies happy. Even my criminal corn plants at Kaiser in Martinez are looking good. But Ground Squirrel Gardens, in hot and dry Concord CA, is, alas, little more that a feeding ground for vicious herbivores. The corn is gone. The green beans are gone. The sunflowers are gone. But still, my older kid clients and I persevere, and we will water our squash until they disappear.
18 people like this
15 responses
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
11 Aug 16
I have no answers, but maybe there's something at this website you can use:
How to stop squirrels from getting in your bird feeder, garden or attic. Articles offering solutions to problems caused by nuisance squirrels.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238317)
• Walnut Creek, California
12 Aug 16
@blitzfrick Thanks for the research! I did catch the ground squirrels red pawed gnawing on the corn and even the cacti. But it could be that others are in on the game. I haven't seen any skunks out there.
2 people like this
@blitzfrick (2890)
• United States
12 Aug 16
@TheHorse I was in a conversation yesterday with a wildlife biologist and mentioned your problems with the squirrels. He suggested it might be other animals attacking your gardens as well. While agreeing that squirrelly-types would go for sunflowers, he said they generally don't prefer fleshy vegetables and mentioned skunks and other critters might be the main culprits.
2 people like this
@sallypup (69177)
• Centralia, Washington
11 Aug 16
Bugs nailed my squash plant. The tomatoes are doing quite well and the cucumber is trying to be a cucumber plant. I think the pumpkins might, maybe, just give me a baby pumpkin. And then again 100 degree heat is coming so I had best not be lazy about pulling hose over to that garden or nope.
2 people like this
@velvet53 (24417)
• Palisade, Colorado
11 Aug 16
@TheHorse When I was the coach for a T-ball game I taught the kids it wasn't always about winning. It was about doing their best. Win or lose they were still a winner. I had one father that I had to have removed from the field. He went crazy on me cause his son wasn't doing good. A good lesson is what I want the children to learn.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Aug 16
I am impressed anything made it
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
11 Aug 16
aw now, those lil critters're jest hungry 'n y'all provided 'em with a nice lil, green buffet.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
11 Aug 16
@TheHorse i dunno? the leaves're kinda prickly 'n not very tasty, so perhaps there's hope? 'course, those flowers 're kinda a delicacy...
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238317)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Aug 16
@crazyhorseladycx Yes, I think the prickly and peppery plants are what's saving them. But the yellow flowers do look yummy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238317)
• Walnut Creek, California
23 Sep 16
Well, I wouldn't say "bountiful" is the right term here. But we did harvest a few snow peas, a few green beans, and a couple of squash. That's better than we did last year. Heh. I used to think that cats ruled the world. Now I think it's ground squirrels.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
11 Aug 16
I have been designing something in my mind for you ...I read this earlier.....you have this containers you get right....I mean the other day you poured something yellow ochre on your plate and it was not looking great to eat...you said it was tasty...it must come in some container...even your varnishes, and paints must come in some containers...you have tools...select a container that is wide..cut the bottom.....then you may have some thin metallic chicken mesh cut thin strips..tie them up in the middle part of the container ...leaving bottom open...and upper part open....cover the bottom with chicken mesh use a thin wire (alloy wires are available out here ...you may be having something wasted from your musical insturments), to tie it up firmly to the bottom of that container. Now the thine strips can be tied like circular cement rings around the container ...so that they can be removed and used again. Dig some push the container inside the soil..let the rings of chicken mesh strips be around it...I think squirrels will keep away because they may get tangled. Hope I was able to express myself..
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (17240)
• China
11 Aug 16
The herbivores have no regard for your feeling!Hope the three squash plants will be the compensations.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
11 Aug 16
I hope some survive to be consumed by the growers!
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43602)
• Denver, Colorado
11 Aug 16
I know nothing about gardening. Must have happened during one of your incarceration stints!
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34776)
• Peoria, Arizona
11 Aug 16
Whatever does grow and stays around is really great. Perhaps you just need to take a little more time and see what else you can do to keep those plants thriving and safe!
1 person likes this
