I guess my tulips aren’t the only plants that come under attack. Something REALLY hates my new cimicifuga (bugbane) ‘White Pearl’ plant. Thankfully we’ve had about 4 inches of rain since I planted it or it never would’ve survived. For all I know it has been sitting exposed like that for several weeks.
It’s growing in a wide flowerbed that sits under an oak tree. I rarely step back there once the perennials take off unless I’m weeding or doing some emergency watering. The other day I was pulling weeds and discovered the plant lying helpless on the soil surface. The root ball and original potting soil were still intact.
I re-planted it and gave it a good drink of water. The next day I went out to check on it, but I didn’t see it sticking up among the astilbes. I climbed back there again. This time the plant was in even worse shape. The critter had dug it up again, but this time he or she stripped off all the soil and all but a small clump of roots. Next to the plant was a smooth, sunken area. It looked like someone had been lounging after the violence. I searched for a rabbit nest but found nothing, nor did I see any scat or other evidence. I don’t know if I’m dealing with a coon, a cat, a rabbit or some other mysterious beast.
I tucked the poor, battered bugbane into the ground AGAIN and then surrounded it with a cylinder of plastic fencing secured with bamboo stakes. I watered the area thoroughly, and then I stuck additional bamboo stakes in the ground near the lounging area to discourage the creature from loitering.
Now it’s the creature’s move…