Re: Squirrels Steal My Rhizomes
- To: i*@onelist.com
- Subject: Re: Squirrels Steal My Rhizomes
- From: "* O* <s*@hotmail.com>
- Date: Sun, 23 Aug 1998 09:16:19 PDT
From: "Sterling Okase" <sterling_o@hotmail.com>
>HAPPYBIRDR@aol.com wrote:
>>
>> From: <HAPPYBIRDR@aol.com>
>>
>> I'm new to the list. Have a mixed perennial bed with lots of TB.
Added 16
>> new ones last year and 16 more last week. However, in one section of
the
>> garden both years, newly planted rhizomes disappeared. Vanished.
Without a
>> trace. I believe squirrels are responsible since that's the only
critter in
>> abundance in my suburban Long Island yard -- and Lord knows they're
>> responsible for everything else that gets eaten or disappears.
>> Pat
>> Long Island
>Welcome aboard, Pat!
>
I suppose your losses could be due to squirrels, tho I've never
>known tree or ground squirrels or any rodents showing the slightest
>interest in bearded rz -- I have heard that rabbits will take nips out
>of the leaves but that's about all. My understanding (correct me if I'm
>wrong on this, guys) is that all irises are mildly to very toxic to
>mammals & that's why neither the plants nor the rz or bulbs are eaten
by
>same.
>Marte in the mtns Zone 4/Sunset 1 Colorado
I too have had trouble with squirrels in my Seattle garden but not on a
regular basis. Usually, the only trouble I have is with squirrels
uprooting newly planted rhizomes in their quest to bury their *damn*
nuts. Also, it seems that they are very particular which cultivars to
bury them under. Usually the expensive or most favored, newly planted
rhizomes. Last fall, one of my furry, rodent friends decided that my
much coveted new purchase, a "clump" piece of Morning's Blush should be
his marker for his walnuts. Every morning I would wake to find he had
uprooted Morning's Blush and every morning I would have to dig the
walnut out and replant MB. At one point, the squirrel, apparently in a
digging frenzy, broke off pieces and scattered them. Needless to say MB
did not bloom for me this spring. But at least it survived.
About four years ago, Seattle experienced a most severe fall and winter.
During that period I did discover newly planted rhizomes yanked from the
ground, chewed and left behind. Again, they were only interested in
certain varieties, one of which happened to be a guest seedling under
number from a hybridizer. WOULDN'T YOU KNOW!!! At least, the squirrel
had the decency to leave it for me to find. Though like Pat, I never
actually saw the squirrels do it, I would safely guess it was squirrels
since I have no other wild life (aside from pigeons and crows) to blame.
I have NO moles, voles, rats, mice, raccoons, opossums or deer.
I too, have heard that iris rhizomes taste badly and animals will not
eat them. But I have been told by other plant people that squirrel and
other assorted rodents , in desperate times, will try to eat just about
anything. This might be true since we have not had an exceptionally cold
winter since then nor have I had trouble with squirrels eating my
rhizomes. Thank Goodness.....
Last summer the squirrels carried off a couple of my seed pods........I
know there is a Dykes Medal winner growing out of a tree somewhere in my
neighborhood.
Iris Maniac,
Sterling (not Innerst)
Seattle, WA. Zone 8
AIS, KCIS, HIPS and MIS
sterling_o@hotmail.com
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