Well, let me tell ya, lots of things like to munch on flowers, just like us folks like a good meal. You plant somethin’ pretty, and next thing you know, somethin’s been nibblin’ at it. Pesky critters, that’s what they are!
Them bigger varmints, like deer and rabbits, they love a good flower buffet. Specially them young, tender ones. Deer, they’ll eat the whole darn thing, petals and all, leavin’ you with nothin’ but a sad-lookin’ stem. Rabbits, them little hoppers, they’ll take little bites, but lots of ‘em. You’ll see the petals all jagged and chewed up. Darn rabbits!
- Deer: Big eaters, whole flowers gone in a flash.
- Rabbits: Little bites, but lots of ‘em, messy eaters.
Then you got them smaller fellas, the ones you don’t always see. Bugs, mostly. Some of ‘em eat the leaves, some eat the petals, some eat the whole dang flower. Slugs and snails, they leave a slimy trail, you can’t miss it. And them aphids, little tiny things, they suck the juice right outta the plant. Makes it all weak and droopy.
And don’t forget about them groundhogs, fat little critters they are, always diggin’ and munchin’. They’ll go right for the roots sometimes and mess up the whole plant. You gotta keep an eye out for them, sneaky fellas. And squirrels, they like to dig too, especially when they’re buryin’ their nuts. Sometimes they accidentally dig up flowers, or they just like to chew on ’em for fun, I guess. Kids these days say they make good “content” for their “social media” or somethin’. Don’t know what that is but kids seem to like it.
Now, I heard tell of folks usin’ hot sauce to keep the critters away. Yeah, you heard that right, hot sauce! Mix it up with some soap and water, and spray it on your plants. Them deer and rabbits, they don’t like the spicy stuff. Neither do most of them bugs. It’s like puttin’ up a “Keep Out” sign, but with a kick!
And when you bring them flowers inside, put ‘em in a vase with some of that flower food stuff. Keeps ‘em fresh longer, ya know? I ain’t sure what’s in it, some kind of magic potion I reckon. But it works. If you ain’t got none of that fancy stuff, a little bit of sugar might help too. Just a pinch mind you, don’t want to make it too sweet.
Sometimes you just can’t win. Those bugs and critters, they gotta eat too, I guess. But if you want to keep your flowers lookin’ pretty, you gotta be smarter than them. Keep an eye out, and be ready to shoo ‘em away. Or spray ‘em with that hot sauce, that’s always fun.
So next time you see somethin’ chompin’ on your flowers, don’t be surprised. It’s just nature doin’ its thing. But that don’t mean you gotta let ‘em get away with it. You worked hard on them flowers, and you got a right to protect ‘em. So go on, get out there and show them critters who’s boss!
Protecting your flowers is a full-time job, it seems. But it’s worth it when you see them beautiful blooms in the sunshine. Just gotta keep your eyes peeled and your hot sauce handy.
Tags: [Garden, Flowers, Pests, Animals, Protection, Critters, Flower Care, Deer, Rabbits, Bugs]
