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Sat, Apr 30, 11 at 14:49
| The tops of course. And he likes the early species ones so far. Is it likely our beloved resident rabbit(who we have watched often at close range and who seems to prefer grass which is just fine with us)? It's too early for the w's to be out. she said. thanks much.
mindy |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by athenainwi (My Page) on Sat, Apr 30, 11 at 17:40
| Yeah, it's the rabbit. Mine love to eat the flower before it blooms so I'm stuck with just leaves. I'm an optimist when it comes to tulips so I leave the leaves alone, but its so disappointing to have to deal with dying foliage when I didn't get the bloom I wanted. Liquid fence works well if it isn't raining too much or you can switch to daffodils. |
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Sat, Apr 30, 11 at 17:43
| If it isn't the rabbit it could be squirrels. Years ago I used to say the ones here were nice 'Beatrix Potter' squirrels and never did any damage. Guess the new generation liked rebelling because last year I caught one nipping off the tulip heads. To add insult to injury the perverse beast didn't actually EAT the tulip heads, but left them decapitated next to the plant :-* CMK |
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| I HATE squirrels. They eat my tulips and they destroy my fuschia and begonias. They are just rats with a cute look. |
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- Posted by arbo_retum z5 WinchstrMA (My Page) on Sat, Apr 30, 11 at 19:22
| cmk, that's exactly what happens w/most, not all, of our decapitated tulips. gosh, i hope the rabbit and squirrels aren't having some sick anthropomorphic competition to see who can destroy the most tulips. I can just see them comparing their piles of tulip heads like headhunter cannibals!!! or maybe they'll start wearing them around their necks like badges of manhood :-)) I need a cartoonist! best, mindy |
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| It's the deer that eat my tulips. They don't really browse on much in the gardens, but apparently the tulips are a favorite - they are nibbled on EVERY year. Not only the tips but much of the foliage too. Last year the tulips looks like they had been trimmed rather tidily. This year, oddly there was only a little browsing so I've got more tulip buds! |
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| My guess would be deer, I've had to stop planting tulips. They eat the flower bulb right when they're ready to open, of course they eat them when blooming as well. We have a lot of rabbits but they seem to leave mine alone. The deer on the other hand LOVE them. They're a "delicacy " to them, grrr. Good luck |
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| Mindy, I hope you don't have deer! My vote's on squirrels. OT: did you get to Tranquil Lake? If so, would love to hear a report. Marie |
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| Because so many leaves are eaten, I thought it must be deer ... but I live in the city, with blocks and blocks of traffic. There is no hiding place. It cannot be deer. |
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| I just recently learned from my dad that when he was young his mom taught him that the squirrels bite off the tulip buds becuase there is some sort of kernel at the bottom of the bud that they like. So, while they don't eat the whole bud, they do eat a little kernel inside. I've never dissected a tulip bud but now maybe I will just to check it out. I had the same problem with chipmunks biting off the buds of my asiatic lilies but not eating the bud, and I wonder if it is the same type of thing. |
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| Never would have actually BELIEVED it could be squirrels. . .until one morning while peacefully sitting on a bench, coffee in hand, I watched in horror, as barely 15' away, one of those (formally cute) little S.O.B.'s rose up on his haunches and snapped the top off one of my prized "Gudoshniks". . .I went ballistic !!! Now, I stalk the garden, particularly in the Spring, with my trusty slingshot. . .thoroughly "green", you understand, because I use hazelnuts for ammunition. . .which attracts the squirrels. . .sigh. . .you just can't win. . . Carl |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Tue, May 3, 11 at 17:03
| WHO is Eating Our Tulips? ====>>> probably some drunken neighbor who never really liked you anyway ... any suspects??? ken |
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- Posted by ghoghunter Zone6b SE PA (My Page) on Wed, May 4, 11 at 15:32
| Groundhogs also love tulips. Actually tulip bulbs are edible even by people. The whole plant is a tasty treat to any animal who is hungry. Joann |
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