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The Yellow Budded Crime Scene

Shelley

As far as I can tell, it was a near-death experience for some of my flowers. Here I thought it was going to be the first frost that’d do them in. But, nope. Instead, it was a villain much worse than Jack Frost.

Some flowers have survived, while others didn’t.

First, I noticed the criminals trampled on a few of them. Knocked them right down onto the rocks.

It must’ve been quite the race they ran through the flowers. Rabbits run 18 mph. Did you know that? It looks faster than that to me.

Which one of the wild critters thought up the crimes against yellow buds?

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.

John Steinbeck

Here’s adorable suspect number one. I don’t know why he couldn’t eat the weed growing through the cracks, though? That would’ve been helpful.

Maybe it was this guy/gal hidden in the distance? There’s a third one that has remained unphotographed. Shy I guess?

It was a nocturnal act. I’m convinced of it. I haven’t caught any of them in the act. They’ve been busy each early evening munching away on the grass. Looking all cute and innocent.

Did you notice one of the innocent victims of these two criminals? See the flower near the tea house in the picture above?

I had nurtured it and rejoiced in the fact that one of the ground squirrels had transplanted the seed there. Mr. hadn’t mowed it down. We were both (okay…that’s a far-reaching statement, it was just near and dear to me) so happy it had started to bloom. And this week it had reached full bloom status. So pretty.

Then one day, it was broken in half. And I was so sad. Then the next day it was all gone except for the stalk.

I guess the stalk isn’t as yummy as the flower or leaves? Or perhaps it is tougher to chew?

Here’s the guilty party, I think? Don’t let his cute face sway you into thinking he’s innocent. The beautiful yellow flower was just so tempting. He couldn’t resist attacking it and eating it for a midnight snack during the full moon.

But wait…there’s more to the crime scene…over there, across the yard. The rabbits run back and forth across the yard between tea house and deck to hide from humans and birds of prey.

I didn’t see this scene until yesterday. WTH?! The marigolds aren’t done blooming yet! Where did all the yellow buds go?

The dang blasted Eastern Cottontail Rabbit rascals have no limits. Not a single blooming flower is left in this planter. They’ve all been beheaded. And the petals consumed.

And there’s this planter with only one blossom left. Guess the far left corner of the pot is the safety zone? Maybe I did catch it in the act when I opened the door. There’s a bud left behind.

How dare they eat my marigolds? Why not eat the frosted flake leaves instead?

How in the up on their hind legs did they commit these crimes?

Plus this all happened so close to Copper’s resting place. He would’ve never let the yellow budded flower crime happen. Nope, not on his watch! I bet this would get his hackles up too.

Hmm…as far as I can tell, there’s plausibility of a near convincing reason that rabbits only live 4-6 months. Just saying. . .

Post inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “near/far.” Use “near,” use “far,” use them both if you’d like. In fact, if you start your post with one and end with the other, you get bonus points! Enjoy!

PS – Happy Sunday All – thanks for hopping by to say hi. It’s always great to hear from you! Take care and guard your yellow flowers against the rabbits! If you have any tips on how to prevent them from eating marigolds, I have five more planters shaking in the wind.

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

44 thoughts on “The Yellow Budded Crime Scene”

    1. That’s an excellent description of rabbits! We have coyotes here too and fox and owls. Some how these two rabbits (or three) have been able to stay safe under the tea house and deck. They probably think they inherited a gated community that is finally dog-free?!
      Thanks – I’m sad about the flowers, but the first frost is soon to arrive so I’ll have to part with them then anyhow.

  2. We have rabbits this year too, a couple of them at least, when in the past 5 years or so we haven’t had any. But in our yard, the culprit is more likely to be a ground hog. They EAT EVERYTHING. Are you sure you don’t have one of those under the shed?

    1. Hmm…I’m sure we have groundhogs here too. I don’t think we have one in the yard, but now that Copper isn’t around maybe one moved in? Yikes!!!

  3. The rabbits are too cute! We have Hares down here, huge, long ears and big eyes. I suggest putting chicken wire anywhere on the perimeter of the yard that the rabbits can get in. If possible. Or, put some traps with bait out that will capture them, then drive them a mile away or more, bye! 😂

    1. Yeah, they’re cute. As long as they leave my plants alone, I don’t mind them hanging around. We haven’t tried chicken wire. They’ve dug a hole under the fence gate and can squeeze between the door on the chain link fence too. We’ve done the bait and trap and relocate method too. They seem to like returning. It’s hard to tell though, they all look alike! 🤣😂🐇🐰

      1. All rabbits are partners in crime! The chicken wire would have to be buried underground about 6 inches then… All for the love of flowers!

          1. At my old job in Michigan, using a .22 long gun was always an option. Not everyone agrees with that solution of course.

  4. It’s funny. The marigolds are one of the things our rabbits do NOT eat. My wife plants them along the side of her garden, and they survive well. The rabbits are so cute, it’s hard to stay mad at them.

    1. I’ve never had the rabbits eat the marigolds either. Marigolds are my tried and true flowers – easy to care for and hearty. Until this year. And these rascals – who are, as you say, cute and hard to stay mad at.

          1. We’ve had both living around here. Opossums are welcome. They might do a little damage in the garden, but they eat every bad thing that might enter the yard. One of our neighbors spotted a raccoon.

  5. Reminds me of our ongoing battle at the former house. Man, the critters eat everything. Having Copper gone makes a difference, I’m sure, but once he was indoors, I’m sure they sent out the rabbit signal anyway. They’re sneaky and quick. 😂

    1. Oh, my, yes, your yard was full of tasty treats for the critters! It’s been a slow process, but day by day more birds and small animals seem to be invading the yard since Copper no longer marks his turf. The small critters are sneaky and quick, that’s for sure! I wish I could sneak up on them and get better photos! 🤣😉😂🐰🐇🤔😁

  6. Kind of Lik Morticia Addams, who cuts the blooms off of roses and puts the stems in a vase. We get invaded every year oir so by army woms, who eat the green off the lawn and leave the brown underneath.

    1. Oh, my, yes, Morticia – I could dress up like her for Halloween! Maybe I should put the stalks in a vase? That would make me smile about how clever you are to think of her!
      Army worms…ew. We have some of those too – they are vicious.

      1. We watch the reruns on MeTV (weeknights at 6, 5 Central). I watched the show when it first aired (in ’64, when I was 8), and find the reruns even funnier, because I understand the humor now.

        We’ve had them twice, seven years ago the first time (I wrote about it [here](https://thesoundofonehandtyping.com/2014/09/17/invasion-of-the-armyworms/)) and just this year the second time. It freaked us out the first time, jus annoyed us the second.

        1. I should start watching those reruns instead of any news.
          Those worms are crazy! I think we have birds that do like to eat them as they first hatch. Thanks for sharing your link! Very interesting. Glad you were able to get them taken care of and that they’ve only returned once.

  8. Easy, fast and efficient rabbits repellent:
    1. Cut the newspaper into strips.
    2. Soak each strip with white vinegar.
    3. Arrange the pieces of vinegar paper around the vegetable patch.
    4. Hang a few strips on low branches of trees or on fences.
    5. Add white vinegar to the paper strips once a week.
    If you don’t have newspaper on hand, use strips of fabric or old rags. This trick also works to repel rodents and all the pests that come into the garden: martens, field mice, nutria …

    1. Wow – thank you. I’ll have to try that, I’ve never heard of that remedy! Vinegar sure is useful. I use it for cleaning all the time. 🤔😉😁😊

  9. Those sweet but pesky rabbits! I think I’ve mentioned to you in the past Shelley that I could not grow bleeding heart because the bunnies stripped every bloom off the bush so I eventually gave up on them and enjoy the ones at Memorial Park in the volunteer garden instead. I understood the smell of marigolds kept bunnies at bay but you have to plant them near the flowers you want to keep chomp-free!

    1. Yes, I remember that about your bleeding heart. This is the first year ever that the rabbits have attacked the marigolds. The marigolds do keep bugs away, I always thought they kept rabbits away too. Soon it’ll be the frost that keeps all the flowers away until spring.

      1. Yes, I think bleeding heart blossoms were like candy to the rabbits. So much for growing them in my garden. Yep – the frost and we’ll have nothing left, but the fear of wiping out on black ice.

        1. Yes, that darn black ice. I’m not looking forward to that. I better get our treadmill oiled up and grab some good books to read. 😉

          1. Yes, you’d better. I would love to have a treadmill and could only fit it in the basement if I did some major decluttering first!

  10. Thanks for sharing this not-so-mysterious mystery. When we first built our house in southern Utah, rabbits ate some of our young plants, but this year we haven’t seen a single one in our yard. We were told putting moth balls around the plants would keep them away. Who knows? I found your blog through a comment you left on Janis’s Retirementally Challenged. It’s nice to “meet” you.

    1. Hi, Christie! It’s so nice to meet you here too. I love Janis’s blog. She shares such great stories and photos and her comments always make me think! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and tips. I think I remember my grandparents using moth balls. I might need to try that too. Looks like I have a plan for next year’s gardening adventures. Soon we’ll be covered with white snow. The rabbits will still be here to scare away when spring arrives. Happy October to you! If you have a blog, share your link here so I can check it out!

    1. I’ve thought of that, but didn’t think the lemon grass would survive our winters? But it is worth a try, especially if it keeps the rascals at bay!

      1. I had mine almost dead in the drought but bounced back when the rains came. They are easy to propagate. Just stick a stalk in water and it’s grow roots. Take indoors over Winter 😉

        1. WOW – you just know so much stuff! I will definitely try to grow some. My girl friend has a vacation home in Florida and she grows Lemon Grass there to keep the bugs away from the door. It grows well in Florida. 🙂

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