On Friday evening, when I got home from work, I took advantage of a break in the heavy storms we’d been experiencing since Thursday night and walked out back to see how everything was holding up in the deluge.
For the third time in less than a week, as I stood over the bolted spinach and the mad-crazy lettuce situation, the leaves rustled and a rabbit darted out and across the grass. I believe it is this rabbit, as pictured, because now I’m starting to recognize him or her. This one is bold enough to have, essentially, moved into my lettuce patch, and barring other evidence, I blame it for the destruction that has been wreaked this year. It’s also bold enough to sit for pictures. The rabbits of last year? Most of the time, they would at least have the common decency to run to the other side of the yard when I whipped out the camera.
Peas? Gone. Zucchini? Much of those plants, even, have been gnawed down to a stump. Apparently the rabbit doesn’t like cucumbers, though—a small blessing.
That third strike was all it took for me to set to ripping out the spinach and lettuce right then and there. The rain had softened the dirt, which meant it was super-fast work. In a matter of minutes, I had even more compost material and even less of a home for the rabbit.
I swear. If it wants a house, I’m happy to build it one. Complete with its very own pit of despair. But it had better stay out of the garden. See yesterday’s threat for further corroboration.
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 10:28 am
Ah… the dreaded bunnies.
For the first time ever, I planted bulbs last fall. When spring started, well, springing this year, I ventured outside every day to watch the progress of the new purple and white striped tulips I planted. I was soooo excited when I saw them start to bud. Just as they were starting to open, I went out one morning and every single bud had been munched off. Not just the new tulips, either, but even the ones that were planted by the previous owners.
It’s the first time in four years that I’ve had the problem. And the guilty culprits think nothing of hopping down the sidewalks on our street.
The other day, though, my de-clawed cat who will NOT be kept indoors left me a present out front. Most of the time it’s mice. This time? A baby bunny.
I must admit, I felt guilty for all of 30 seconds. Then I patted her on the head and said, “Good kitty. That’ll teach ‘em to mess with our flowers.”
Maybe. ;)
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 10:56 am
I’m right there with you on those bunnies, sister. They are not welcome in my garden, either!
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 11:13 am
The “Bunny Salad Bar” is what I call my garden some years, not this one for some reason. A dog helps … (Lady ‘woofs’ in agreement and looks scours the landscape for bunny signs)
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
One good thing about urban gardening: no bunnies. While I envy your space, fresh air, and green surroundings, I do not envy your bunnies.
Good luck with the rabbit war!
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
those bunnies are good eatin’
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
ha…pit of despair. ha. I love princess bride, the movie. You are so funny, and can cook, and can garden and have nice job….geez, just about perfect I would say.
Too funny. And the bunny is cute. you can send him east because I stillhave that patch of mesclun I planted just for the bunnies….it is still all there. sigh.
xx
on Jun 26th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
Valerie, I haven’t yet told the full story (coming soon!), but I think the bunnies decimated my bulb display, too. Dratted bunnies.
Carol, I know…they’re brutal!
Alanna, it’s just another reason that Lady rules. She’s so excellent!
Christina, you know, I never thought of that. It’s true — very few bunnies survive the urban experience…
Farmer Mark, that is a good point. I don’t know if I’m quite ready to eat them yet…but give me a few days.
Cole, yeah, why haven’t they gone after your mesclun? Why? Why? Why do they just go after mine?
on Jun 27th, 2007 at 6:51 am
They only like newly-planted cucumber vines. My advice – adopt a cat or dog. Cats are better because they can stay out all night and guard your garden. They’ll slow down their grazing as the plants mature. They only like the young, succulent stuff. Welcome to the world of gardening! LOL
on Jun 27th, 2007 at 6:54 am
Sally, so far…SO FAR…my cucumber vines have been safe. We’ll see, though. They have been enjoying my zucchini plants, to my great dismay…
on Jun 27th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I hope I’m not banished…but the bunnies have pretty much stayed out of my garden. Sure, one did rush out and startle me one day when I was hand watering the swiss chard. But no devastation.
I can only credit the fact that there is SO MUCH other greenery around here.
And…funny stuff that tomatoes hanging around!
Bumblebee
on Jun 28th, 2007 at 12:01 am
Bumblebee, you’re not going to be banished, but forgive me for harboring jealousy…
on Jun 28th, 2007 at 6:09 am
[...] It was a rabbit. A rabbit who is as comfortable playing Frogger in 80 mph traffic as, no doubt, with someone’s mesclun mix. [...]
on Jul 10th, 2007 at 10:09 am
[...] of peas, a birth of beans Published July 10th, 2007 Exasperation , Seeds , Vegetables The rabbits have committed many sins this summer. Many, many sins. And I’m not talking about the two that [...]
on Jul 24th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I can’t understand all of you who are in a bunny war! We have taken their land, their space, then built our gardens on it and we get mad when they come and feed themselves?
Bunnies have as much right as we do to be on this planet. They survive thanks to their instinct which is to find the foods that they need. This little animal is just doing what it was born to do, nothing more. It’s not deciding that it’s going to go kill your garden. So make peace with the rabbits. Enough war in this world. One of you is thinking of building it a home. Do it! A nice largen pen, roof covered away from predators and put a few greenies in there and large bowl of water. That lil bunny will go in there for feed. I own rabbits, house rabbits. They love to have a place of their own for protection. If done right it will very easily go inside that pen. At that point close the door and go get him another bun for company. They don’t like to live alone. It’s a sad life. But please all of you, learn compassion and tolerance for animals. They here the same way we are :)
on Jul 24th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Ps. and dont forget to give it tons and tons of hay!! lol
on Jul 24th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Mich, no one’s questioning their right to be on the planet…no worries! I’d just prefer they not eat my vegetables. However…I’m not going to take a wild bunny and pen it up. It’s one thing to keep a domesticated rabbit or eight as a pet, but to trap a wild one? That’s what I call cruel.
on Feb 12th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
THIS PIX IS SO SAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I JUST WANNA HELP THE BUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
on Feb 12th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Emma, YOU’RE WELCOME TO HELP IT RIGHT OFF MY PROPERTY.
Thank you.
on Nov 13th, 2009 at 1:26 am
[...] It was a rabbit. A rabbit who is as comfortable playing Frogger in 80 mph traffic as, no doubt, with someone’s mesclun mix. [...]