Christmas 2005 Newsletter

I've heard many horror stories from customers and online friends about how some critter had trashed their pond. Herons, raccoons, and even deer have been known to cause problems in water gardens. In all the years we've had ponds, we've been very luck to have had almost no problems with any wildlife. Well...that is until last fall when our luck began to run short.

Last fall we began to wake up every morning to a few up turned water lilies in our growing tanks. We knew there were raccoons living down by the barn, so it didn't take long to realize they had finally discovered the “water park” in the garden. Among everything else that has to be done in the fall to prepare for winter, nothing was done about this problem. Maybe by spring they would forget about the ponds or better yet, move on to a new home. Wishful thinking, that was.

As spring arrived, we knew the raccoons were still around, but they appeared to be behaving themselves. Of course, that didn’t last. At first, it was just one or two pots along the edge of the pond. Then they discovered how much fun it was to play in the marginals tank. When they found the tropical water lily tank and dumped most of the lilies in one night, that was the final straw!

That night we set the live trap behind the tropical lily tank and baited it with an egg. The next morning…nothing. The second night we moved the trap near the marginals tank and baited it with a raccoon’s favorite midnight snack, marshmallows. The next morning...well, just see for yourself...

Yes, there are three young coons in the trap!! We continued to bait the trap all summer, but never caught another raccoon. Mama and at least two other young ones are still around and began getting into mischief again this fall.

The war is not over..

Hosta collectors, are you making a list...and checking it twice?? Coming to In The Country in 2006... Beckoning ~~ Lakeside Love Affair ~~ Princess Anastacia ~~ Cookie Crumbs ~~ Holy Mole ~~ Key Lime Pie ~~ Snowy Lake ~~ Fountain of Youth ~~ Fire Opal ~~ X-Rated ~~ Queen of the Seas ...and that is just the beginning!!