Golly Pete!

By Anne Mehrling on August 26, 2024

Golly Pete! That's what I say when I'm surprised and annoyed. Golly Pete is what I exclaimed as I looked at the morning glory plants near the front steps. Shawn had shared her seeds with me, and rather late in the season I planted them there, and under a trellis on the back of the house. I had already checked the back ones when I took Kacey out. There were no blooms, but the plants looked healthy. They should. I've been watering them twice a day. When I came back from the morning walk, I checked the two pots near the stairs. THERE WERE NO PLANTS IN THE POTS! There were no stems climbing up the posts. All green living matter had disappeared. The dirt had not been disturbed at all, leading me to believe the plants were eaten, not uprooted and taken away.

Neighbor Joyce has been battling squirrels that climb her lovely sunflowers and ride them down to the ground. I can imagine some sneaky squirrel selling tickets for the thrill of a lifetime at the sunflower carnival. Other critters have eyed and tasted her vegetables. She also has a few peppers that have begun to self-destruct from the inside out. Growing things is not for the faint-hearted.

The only plan of action I have is not to plant morning glory seeds near the steps. Here is the only photo I took of one at the front. I hope it was tasty and nutritionally good for the creature that ate it. Judging by the color of the bloom, the plant was in the pink of health.