The Bunny Wars
Public enemy #1 strikes the backyard garden — fighting the battle against cute bunnies decapitating sunflowers and chopping bean plants.
If you are like me, when you think of bunnies you think of a sweet little face, a twitchy little nose and cute, fluffy tail. But, don’t let that cute exterior fool you. They are much more sinister than most realize.
Around here, we are fighting many battles against public enemy #1, the bunnies. Now, I know what you must be thinking but, I kid you not. The Bunny Wars are no laughing matter. Many a plant life has already been lost to these tiny little killers.
First, it was the peas (even the sugar snap!). Then, I was noticed the decapitated Sunflowers (the heads were never found). Black beans weren’t safe, either. Those poor guys were cut in half. And, the latest victims, the pole beans. The pole beans weren’t hurting anyone. They were tucked in the back, out of the way, just doing what pole beans do when along came the bunny and chopped them off at the knees. They are currently listed in serious condition, and it’s unknown if they will pull through. It’s going to be a long hard fight to get them out of the ICU and in stable condition but, we are not giving up on them. Only time will tell if they will pull through and prosper.
I don’t want you to think that the little Garden soldiers (aka Plants) and their fearless leader, Major Gardener, are just sitting back and watching this happen without stepping in to try to save the lives of these little soldier. We’ve been strategizing, planning and executing. Gardener raised a fence, and secured it tight, while the little soldiers have been busy growing big and strong and bushing out to block the paths, creating obstacles to get around. Even marigolds and herbs (both said to deter the enemy) were planted strategically throughout to do their part as the war pushes on. But, behold, after all of this, the gardener came home only to find the rabbit, having breached the perimeter, mocking her and helping itself to the protected foliage.
One would think that after all these battles lost, the gardener and her little soldiers would throw in the towel, raise the white flag, and give in to what appears to the inevitable, the plot being lost to the bunnies. The gardener being left to sit back and hope at least most of her little soldiers make it to harvest time. If you believe that, you are wrong. This gardener grew up watching The Goonies and, like Goonies, Gardeners never say die. She will not sit back and watch her garden, and future gardens, be wiped out by the enemy.
So, where does this leave the gardener and her garden? Strategizing new, and hopefully more successful, ways to protect her plants and bring the loss to an absolute minimum (nature will always take its share, no matter what). This isn’t the easiest war to be won when everything must be humane, and safe for nature and wildlife (I assure you, no bunnies have been, or will be, hurt in the fighting of this war). Tighter enclosures are being worked out, raised garden beds are being planned, and the most fragile plants will no longer be left out in the open to fend for themselves.
*This post is dedicated to all of the victims of the Bunny wars. Past, present and future.