March 28, 2012
In my neck of the woods, rabbits run a-muck. They live under sheds, eat up gardens and flower beds, make a mess everywhere (albeit a mess less noticeable than the robins nesting in the tree next to the deck, yuck!) and multiply like, well, rabbits. Still, for my own and my children's sake, I do recognize them as one of God's many creatures that has to cohabit the Earth alongside us humans. Since my core values prevent me from obtaining a firearm myself or allowing the neighbor to gun these creatures down, I have for years battled to keep my flower beds full only to have them mowed down by these blasphemous creatures.
In years past I tried a spray to keep the rabbits away - that was laughable. I tried an old remedy, sprinkling human hair (generously donated by my hair stylist) around the flower beds. The scent from the hair is supposed to prevent the rabbits from nesting there. And rabbits apparently eat very close to their nesting place. This worked pretty well for several weeks but nearly made me gag having to put it out in the beds or worse if a stray hair blew onto me and I realized it probably wasn't one of my family's. Ew.
One year my beautiful, smart and animal-loving daughter suggested if we feed the rabbits maybe they won't eat the plants. Logic! For weeks we put out carrots, lettuce, celery, you name it. And they gobbled up those offerings, hopped over to the flower beds and gobbled up them too. Just a few days ago, my kids accidentally dropped a bowl of pretzels and goldfish crackers and didn't bother to pick them up. No fear, the bunnies devoured the snacks like I devour chips and salsa when I am drinking margaritas. They will, it seems, eat anything. But again those blasted core values I have prevent me from putting out something stronger or more toxic.
Another year a rabbit made her nest and had her 8 babies in one of our flower planters. This was discovered by neighbor kids who were helping me plant flowers. Once the kids discovered the find there was little I could do. We returned the protective cover and left it alone so the mama bunny could return. For days kids came to look at the nest taking care not to touch it. Eventually one day, the planter was empty. The mama bunny came and carried the bunnies out of the planter one-by-one taking them to the near-by wooded area, we assume. This would be Phoebe's version of the story, you know the character from Friends, whose mom never let her see the end of Old Yeller. We don't really know for sure. Maybe during a very hard thunderstorm, the planter filled with water and those poor babies drown and this human mama, horrified by the discovery, couldn't bare to teach her kids one of life's hardest lessons - survival of the fittest - so a nice neighbor came to help put those bunnies in a peaceful resting place. Yes, I like Phoebe's version better too.
Last year I was defeated - I planted NOTHING. And although the brick-red-rock flower bed cover looks vibrant against the contrasting natural, river-washed rock border and sage green color of our home, it is still just a sea of broken brick.
I want plants and herbs and flowers and shrubs. I want landscaping a green-thumb would envy. Since I am not the said green-thumb, I have decided this year to enlist help. I have googled rabbit-resistant plants and come up with several choices. This year I will try a few of these plants and see if they make a difference.
In the least I suppose I will just have to live with these furry creatures and if I can't have the living greenery, I may have to settle for fake flowers in flowerpots. Ridiculous, maybe. But less work, for sure. A sacrifice I can handle.
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