Varmints

Now that buds are budding, leaves are leafing out, and blossoms are blooming, all the varmints that chew, pluck, and otherwise destroy nature's glory have emerged.

Rabbits have been eating a swath through the tulips. It's amazing the damage that those adorable furry creatures can do.

Destruction by New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) or the Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

 Hopefully, a good shake of pelletized organic rabbit repellant will curb their appetites.

More destruction by New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) or the Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

But not only four-footed varmints are a problem.  We also have trouble with the two-footed variety.  Last year, a roadside line of daffodils helped us pay it forward.  This year, instead of sparking a smile from passers-by, the flowers seem to have fired an urge to help oneself. Caught in the act, the picker of this daffodil shouted, "Lady, what, you're going to give me a hard time for taking one flower?" 

 

Destruction by Massachusetts License Plate 6905BL

Another varmint blithely mused, "Oh, they'll grow back," as he stuck a daffodil into his lapel. Too cheap to buy a bouquet?  Too stupid to understand that by taking flowers for your very own extremely special self, you reduce enjoyment of everyone else?  No impulse control when passing something pretty?  Or just an illustration of the tragedy of the commons?