A couple of years ago the barren vertical posts of the deck were the home of several window planters with morning glory. The vines climbed to the sky and kept on climbing. Flowers, though late in the season bloomed each day, all was well. ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) The following year an encore presentation was planned. Early planting was done in an attempt to have earlier blooms. Enter Tamias striatus and the ever searching nose. Any odor that hinted of food was investigated. Often requiring an exploratory excavation. The window box of Ipomoea violacea began to resemble swiss cheese as each interesting smell was sought out. Plants, not the subject of the digging were collateral damage, wilting in the summer heat. The urge to climb turned into a mission of survival. The blossoms of spring dreams were distant memory as ended the season. ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Season 3 finds the same boxes in a different configuration compliments of a raccoon with an appetite for crocus. When we replaced our house gutters I kept the rolls of gutter protectors that keep leaves from clogging the downspouts. Now several years later the plastic protectors can protect the morning glory plants. Enter Gutterus protectorus now renamed Ipomoea protectorus ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Each year I get 6, 32 quart bags of potting soil to rejuvenate boxes and for planting new plants. ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) In goes the former gutter protector, ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Cut holes for the plants, ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Insert the plant, ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Cover with new soil, ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Repeat…. ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) The chipmunk can now dig to his/her hearts content, the plants are safe. Now what did I do with my scissors? Jerry
Well done, Jerry! I love to read stuff you write, well done and quite entertaining. I lol'd. So you mean they ate the plants, or just disturbed them? Or both? If I had some cute little chippies, I'd plant whatever they wanted to eat in mass quantities (but would take measures to prevent them from destroying 'my' plants too. Not saying anyone should just let the critters eat their display!) I miss them!! I haven't seen one since moving to AL though my Mom thought she's seen one in her yard once or twice.
The little rascals made a mess of the window boxes last year. They do not eat the plants. Sometimes I would find the plants completely unearthed, gasping for water and desiccated by the summer heat. I hope the mat keeps them intact. Already the little rodents have dug two holes. Perhaps their sniffers are satisfied…..for now. Jerry
Very well written! I,especially like the scientific name of the protectors - not that I can pronounce any of them LOL!!
The morning glories are stretching for the sky and have not met the fate of last years cousins. Several attempts to excavate the soil in the planters by the little furry diggers have met with the impenetrable barrier. The former gutter guard is doing its new job superbly. Jerry
I used to use just plain garden fencing in my large flower beds. When my lab was a puppy, she was the problem and on 3 acres she was the one digging and carrying off plants or worse yet , destroying them. It was a lot of work I remember and after one season of not being able to dig in the flower beds, she gave up doing it....it was well worth the work of putting the fencing down in my flower beds. I am sure your tip has helped many with critter problems.
hai! i just joined anyway #Noob You should try growing this Cheerful & calm "kikyo snowflake" japanese morning glory ( Ipomoea nil ) But they are not aggressive like their cousins, the mexican morning glory and common morning glory ( Ipo. tricolor & ipo. Purpurea ) But the blooms are just soo... !!!! And i think they are soo unpicky! I grew my Kikyo in a west facing balcony. it only gets like.1-2 hours direct sun, the rest is all dark Shade! ( tall buildings around my house blocks morning and afternoon sun! so i get the sun at 12pm - 1pm ) but funny it still blooms! Its pretty small though.. But very Glorious! p.s i actually neglect this morning glory..
