Remember the beautiful mallow I planted this spring?
They were doing so well.
I’d found the perfect spot for them and was looking forward to years of beautiful blooms.
But it won’t happen.
Because…..
So I sprayed.
And they ate right through it.
I sprayed again.
It didn’t repel anything. Matter of fact, I think they liked it better that way.
So I sprayed a third time.
You know where this is headed right? I spread red pepper flakes, I scattered moth balls… it didn’t matter.
And now?
My beautiful mallow look like this:
The adorable and quite ungrateful, I feed them apples for Christ’s sake! little furry creatures discovered my mallow and decided to keep noshing no matter what deterrent I tried.
Yes, I’m talking to you.
Apparently mallow is a tasty woodchuck treat, and they made short work of my once gorgeous plants.
They nibbled so much and so quickly, I had to dig the plants up and put them in pots on our deck.
And then….
Yeah.
The I still love them but they’re trying my patience tiny devils climbed up on the deck, tracked down the mallow and tried to munch them right in front of me.
That’s balls.
So now?
My ugly ass, half dead, skinny, leafless stalks of mallow are up on the table looking ridiculous while I ply them with Miracle Grow and hope for the best.
But I am really not happy.
River's world..... 
That’s a lot of groundhogs! You do know they tunnel under buildings, and weaken foundations. They multiply quickly, and one groundhog can eat a quarter of an acre of soybean plants, so I’m surprised you have ANY plants or flowers around your house. The young ones are cute though!
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They’ve dug a few entrance and exit tunnel pathways but nothing major. And I have flowers everywhere they never touch… there’s no rhyme or reason to what they’ll chew.
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Try hanging the plant. If that doesn’t work, hang the woodchuck…
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No harm will come to chucks under my watch. The challenge is to out think them. Admittedly, I’m losing… but I won’t go down without a fight.
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You’re going to use up so much energy and in the end you will lose.
Nature always finds a way.
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We’ve had them before. They come, they eat, they leave. But not before I take 2,900 photos.
😉
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“To dream, the impossible dream…”
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That’s my motto.
It applies to the husband selling his rusty old crap as well….
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3 of them!! Omg so adorable. ❤
Yes I’m quite familiar with your challenges. Makes for great blog fodder though. 😉
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They’re too damned cute to stay mad.
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*smiles*
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Those critters are really trying your generosity and patience aren’t they? Your a good person River because your the Marlin Perkins of Rivers Wild Kingdom. Unfortunately your plants are suffering RiverMarlin….
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There’s just no reasoning with them. Don’t they know I’m making them famous?
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I know right? Just like the groundhog in Caddyshack, like what are they thinking?
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When Hollywood comes calling, they’d better remember who gave them their first break..
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When a woodchuck wants his mallow he wants his mallow!!! I mean if you planted a carrot cake I would eat it!!
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It’s clearly irresistible to the marmot clan.
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Phoenix Marla here. I also tried over the years to plant and got the same results as you. Finally, I went in a totally different direction. I now have no plants but feed my animal kingdom (including squirrels, bunnies, quail, doves and a roadrunner,) birdseed daily at 4pm. They are happy and I am happy. No more battles. No more daily agitation. You think this is your future? 🙂
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I feed all the critters, morning and night. As well as bird seed, suet, nuts and fruit for our feathered friends. But no, I don’t think I could ever give up my flowers. They bring me too much joy.
🌺
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Tape pictures of Trump to your pots. If that doesn’t deter the critters, nothing will.
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No. Because then I’d have to look at them as well…
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hahaha…. cheeky lil’ bastards!
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Right in front of me!
😳
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I thought mallow only grew in marshes?
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Or in S’mores.
Go figure…
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Yikes! I’m afraid I’d be trying to trap them and turn them loose somewhere else. Unless there are too many…
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Mother and 6 children…
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Have you tried fox urine? I know…ew…gross…But when you have critters where they don’t belong…you can buy it from the feed store that we go to. Also, I have no idea what it smells like…that was David’s department. He didn’t want to talk about it. Mona
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Hmm… maybe I could persuade our visiting fox to pee in strategic places and save some money.
❣️
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