The first thyme ever I saw your face...

Something loves the oregano a little too much. I planted oregano for the first time a couple of weeks ago. It is getting smaller instead of larger. The same thing happened to several impatiens I planted under the redbud. Leaves nibbled back to the stalk at night. I suspect snails or slugs. In extreme situations, I take a small empty can, place it in the ground near the plant, and fill it with beer. It worked with the little hibiscus that was being nibbled, but not with the impatiens. I am reluctant to use diatomatious earth around the oregano because it is very near the fennel and parsley, which are currently being eaten by the second installment of swallowtail caterpillars. I don't want to risk hurting them. However, if I want oregano, I have to outwit the night nibbler as well as-- this is entertaining on a whole new level-- the night tosser, which got interested in what was under the can (earthworms) and dug it up a couple of nights in a row. Didn't hurt the oregano, just tossed the can.

It's mayhem out there!

Years ago after our tomcat, Jeoffrey, died, we consulted a cat behavior specialist because our little cat Lily had gone into a deep decline and couldn't pull herself out of it. Jeoffrey was like a big brother to her, and to all of us, as it turned out. Jeff would often stay out at night on purpose, not coming when I called, so that he could patrol the yard at night as well as during the day. He got into fights and had to be stitched up and take antibiotics regularly. Sometimes it was other cats, but until Jeff was gone I didn't realize how much he was doing to keep wild animals away from his territory as well. They moved in when Jeff was no longer patrolling. So when the cat behaviorist asked us about animals in the yard, I described for her the predators and opportunists we have seen-- raccoon, deer, armadillo, possum, fox, bobcat, coyote, owl, hawk, rabbit, and so on, as well as neighborhood cats and the terrifying Jack Russell terrier next door. Taking the cat's point of view, she said, "So it's mayhem out there!" I always think of her comment when I see new evidence of what goes on at night in the garden.