Squirrel Wars 2010: It's On

I finally planted flowers today.  And of course, before I was even finished, my squirrel neighbors were checking out the action.  You see, there are things people warn you about when you move to a big city:  be aware of your surroundings, don't give out your address to strangers, watch out for shady cab drivers.  No one, I mean NO ONE tells you that squirrels will ruin your potted plants because they have a hard time finding dirt in other places in which to bury their nutty treasures.

Last year they fully uprooted all but two of the plants I potted.  This year, I think I'm ready for them.   I've got a modern version of a Geranium, a bit of ivy and something with darker leaves and red flowers in each of my hanging baskets.  What the red stuff is, I have no idea, but the lady at Sprout Home, my local hippie gardening spot, thought it would be perfect for a north-facing, shaded hanging basket.  I do not have a green thumb, so I took the lady's advice.  She won me over by suggesting the "Critter Ridder" spray I had already purchased at Ace Hardware.  Last year her colleagues told me how awful chemicals were for plants and animals, and suggested I use Cayenne pepper to ease my squirrel problem.... and we now all know how that turned out!

She also told me marigolds were on squirrels' nasty list, so got a bunch of those to plant as well.  They're not my favorite, but if they'll ward off squirrels to keep my herbs alive, they are OK by me.

Wish me luck in my quest to keep plants alive - and squirrel free - for the next 3 months!!!