Tuesday, November 8, 2011

The Drama of November

 Hi Everybody, Well, I'd have to say that the fall colors are at their best right now. Vibrant and glowing, they offer a dramatic contrast from the dull November skies and because we've had very little wind this fall, their show keeps on, day after day.  

Euonymous elatum or Burning bush

A prairie of Japanese Blood Grass or Imperata cylindrica growing in a parking lot hell strip. 



Side note: My editor recently received this interesting fact and I wanted to share it with you.  
"Shortly after things started to grow in the garden this year, I found that the chipmunks and rabbits were enjoying the garden more than I was.  I switched to a chicken-wire fence, and that still didn't work.  I had to do something.  As an avid crafter, I had many little Christmas jingle bells that I usually use as part of my gift wrap.  I tied one bell every couple of inches along the bottom of the fence and voila! - no more critters in the garden.  Every time I hear the bells jingle, I know I frightened another away."
So this got me to thinking. Do any of you have an unorthodox tip you've learned to deter critters? Hopefully something that hasn't hurt the little darling/devils but has kept them from eating your beloved plants? If so I'd love to hear about it. Much obliged. 

22 comments:

  1. JessNovember 8, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    No, I haven't. However, I have found that posting stay out signs and complaining loudly about them doesn't work.

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  2. TatyanaNovember 8, 2011 at 9:54 PM

    Beautiful autumn colors! Now, we don't need any strong winds which can get all the leaves down!
    I wish my blood grass grew as well as the grass in that parking lot hell strip!!!
    As for the critters, I noticed that, at some point, deers stopped visiting my garden. Of course, I used 'Liquid fence' and a 'Scarecrow'(sprinkler), but it was suspicious anyway. My friend noticed two long watering hoses on the ground. She said that deers might be scared since the hoses look like snakes. Her uncle hangs several old hoses on the fence, and they look like waves/snakes.

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  3. Gatsbys GardensNovember 9, 2011 at 3:41 AM

    I use a product called Plantskydd for critters works on rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks. It is not harmful and is granular, lasts a few months.

    Great fall colors Grace!

    Eileen

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  4. Victoria WilliamsNovember 9, 2011 at 6:22 AM

    Great fall pics, Grace. Love that tip about keeping the critters away. I also hate hurting any animals and that's a good way to protect plants without encroaching on the furry critters much.

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  5. MindyNovember 9, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    The pictures are SO pretty! And I like the new header picture as well.

    The squirrels are notorious for digging up every single new plant I stick in in the spring. They LOVE diggin' in the pots. I've heard sprinkling cayenne on the soil works to deter them, so I'll be trying that next year.

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  6. Three on GroveNovember 9, 2011 at 10:04 AM

    Great fall photos! I love Japanese blood grass especially at sunset, it is just so pretty. But so invasive! I planted some at our last house and it wanted to take over and I could barely keep it in check. I like the idea of the bells! : )

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  7. Northern Beauty SeekerNovember 9, 2011 at 2:12 PM

    Wow, Grace, the colours are gorgeous! The trees in the last photo would make me feel like I was walking in a wonderland. Glad you are having such a lovely fall. :)

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  8. linniewNovember 9, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    I like the bells. Would I need a marching band to discourage the deer?

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  9. scottweberpdxNovember 9, 2011 at 4:29 PM

    What glorious fall colors...we've had such a nice patch of weather this past few weeks...it's nice to have the leaves stay on the trees for so long!

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  10. SissyNovember 9, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    Gosh, our season is about over, and your color is looking so beautiful now!
    My secret for keeping the critters away?
    A very motivated terrier!
    But don't you have cats, Grace? Can't they help you with the bad guys?

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  11. Jennifer@threedogsinagardenNovember 10, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    I love your image of the Japanese Blood Grass! My dogs love to chase the squirrels from the yard, but getting a dog is way more high maintenance than installing a few bells along a fence. LOL! The bells sound like a great idea.

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  12. Rainy Day GardenerNovember 10, 2011 at 11:01 AM

    wow, Grace, gorgeous fall photos!

    I have no advice because my method currently are my dogs, who in the end cause as many problems as any other critter. ugh.

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  13. KathleenNovember 10, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    wow ~ it's gorgeous there Grace! Our 14 degree overnight low turned everything brown here. I hope the colors hang on for you there ~ even tho I'm jealous!!
    I've never heard that tip before but it's a good one.

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  14. DarlaNovember 11, 2011 at 5:08 AM

    Beautitul Autumn colors around you! I love the idea of the bells. We just use garlic spray.

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  15. CanadianGardenJoyNovember 12, 2011 at 4:55 AM

    Gracie girl your pictures are BEAUTIFUL !! You have so much more colour than I thought you would in your area : )
    Hum ? an unorthodox tip ?
    I use Montreal Steak Spice on places that pesky wild and neighbourhood animals make mischief !! They seem to really not like that mix of spice .. but sometimes you could start to have a craving for steak when catching a sniff of it yourself ? hehehehe
    Joy

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  16. Donna@Gardens Eye ViewNovember 12, 2011 at 10:10 AM

    Gorgeous colors. I use Deer Out spray. It works on many animals and does not harm them. They don't like the flavor on the plant and it lasts a really, really long time. It does not have hot pepper which is harmful to them.

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  17. Heather @ what's blooming this weekNovember 14, 2011 at 1:03 PM

    Love the bloodgrass and the burning bush - the colours are magnificent this year, aren't they?
    As for critters - the only ones I have to worry about are the squirrels eating the bird feed and the bulbs - stopped planting tulips as they are eaten by the squirrels and still to daffodils. Right now they are chewing on my newly planted shallot bulbs. Oh well, at least they're cute.

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  18. UnknownNovember 14, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    Your photos as always are a treat, the colors are amazing. Every fall I swear I'm going to plan plants for every season, I swear it again.

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  19. debsgardenNovember 15, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Jingle bells! What a delightful idea. But I would need an awful lot of them! Your photos are spectacular and illustrate why I love this time of year so much.

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  20. lindaNovember 16, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    The little critter digging my garden up...my husband . This morning digging a channel though my border. I just ran out shouting " STOP " my bulbs.

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  21. WendyNovember 18, 2011 at 12:46 PM

    that's some beautiful color! I thnk we're so used to seeing the oranges and reds that those gorgeous pinks are overlooked (not by you obviously!!!).

    Nothing really unorthodox, but laying strips to netting usually works for me - maybe they don't like to get their little filthy paws tangled up.

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  22. danger gardenNovember 18, 2011 at 6:39 PM

    I love all the pinky-reds, and that Castor Bean header photo is mighty dangerous!

    So did you ever make the Joy Creek/Cistus trip that you were planning for last summer?

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