A couple of years ago the rabbits in our garden discovered that they had a yen for our Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). This was more than a little upsetting, as Virginia Bluebells are probably my favorite native spring ephemeral.
So I came up with a 2-part defensive strategy. The first part was plastic netting. I’m pleased to report that this strategy has been fairly successful, though applied too late to save many of this season’s Bluebell blooms. It’s curious, as rabbits certainly have the dental equipment to bite through the netting if they really want to. Let’s hope they don’t come to realize this.
It’s funny that I’ve never noticed much color variation among the Bluebell flowers. The buds, on the other hand, range from pink to purple to dark blue.
But given that the flowers are the clear blue of a perfect spring sky, why would you need variation? And the foliage, the newer leaves flushed with a bit of purple, look good enough to eat (but please don’t, as they are inedible).
The second part was not deployed until a couple of days ago, because it arrived pretty late. It’s a finished steel cat silhouette I got from a sign company called threesixtysteel.com. It should work on the same principle as scarecrows, at least I thought it was worth a try.
It would be nice if the scarecat did away with the need for the netting, which doesn’t look that great. The netting isn’t perfect, especially as it tends to blow off the plants it is meant to protect. People have have suggested other methods of rabbit deterrence, but I find that either the smell is offensive or it needs to be reapplied after every rain.
But I’d rather have Virginia Bluebells with netting than no Virginia Bluebells at all.
gardeninacity 
How well I understand what it feels like to lose a favorite to those little rotters. I have tried many the foul-smelling product but with no good results; I just get a smelly garden. I hope the cat helps.
Me too. The netting seems to work pretty well.
Hope everything works well and you keep the rabbits from your Virginia Bluebells.
Thanks. The netting works pretty well. Too soon to tell with the cat.
I feel your pain. Rabbits are a real plague and it’s so sad to lose the virginia bluebells. Hope you get to enjoy what’s left of them.
They’re looking good at the moment.
Those rabbits are so destructive. I put chicken wire around my plants that I don’t want eaten by rabbits. Interesting that the black netting works. When I run out of chicken wire I will try it. This reminds me that I need to wire up the lilies. They loved eating them last year.
So far I’ve saved all the lilies in our garden, knock on wood.
I was out this morning using every four-letter word I know. Plants chewed right to the ground. I tried to seal off the areas under the back fence, but securing the entire yard is next to impossible. I saw a program on PBS about rabbits and they are breeding them in captivity on the east coast because they are disappearing. And disappearing is bad why???? They can come get mine – and yours too!
I’m a ‘pet’ rabbit fan and have enjoyed having two over the years. In one town over from us, they repurposed an entire forested area and repopulated it with Cottontail Rabbits that they declared endangered. I wonder why we don’t just leave Mother Nature alone because down the road I’m guessing all the gardeners there will be fencing and netting.
In Japan there is an island that is full of tame bunnies. Tourists visit to hold and pet the rabbits. http://rabbit-island.info/en/
Definitely!
When I was a kid we raised rabbits. For dinner. Last time I ate rabbit was in Prague in 2004.
Yes, there are good rabbit recipes in many European cuisines – Spanish, German, Czech, etc.
You tell’em Jason!! (Let me know if it works?)
The netting seems to work pretty well, at least so far.
They are a beautiful flower so I don’t blame your trying to save them. Good luck!
Thanks.
Maybe you need to get the folks from Iowa, Louisiana to help you out. They have a rabbit festival every year, and serve up rabbit recipes ranging from etoufée to tamales. They’ve got to get those rabbits from somewhere! (I went one year, and discovered rabbit’s quite tasty — at least, the farm-raised is.)
I’ve had Czech and Spanish versions of rabbit stew, both quite tasty.
Long may the netting and the scare cat work! Keep us posted.
Will do!
Hope your solutions work. I think I have a rabbit too but haven’t caught sight. The bluebells are beautiful colors.
I love blue flowers in general, the bluebells especially.
Actually the Virginia bluebells flowering behind the netting looks quite pretty in the photo….one sliver lining. Good luck with the netting and the cat, rabbits are incredibly destructive in Australia too.
I’ve heard that. Isn’t there an Australian movie called Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Yes, a very good, but sad movie..
I love my bluebells and so far the rabbits haven’t come after them. I hope this doesn’t jinx me. They are about to bloom — a bit later than yours, apparently.
Yours are probably in more shade than mine.
Gorgeous, I have never been able to grow them very well here. I hope you win the bunny war.
They are ruthless adversaries.
Danged wabbits!! Good luck with the scarecat, which is quite handsome, I might add. I’ve never tried growing Va.bluebells, though they should grow fine here. Enjoy them while you can!
That’s what I’ll try to do.
Let us know how the cat works. I have an owl, why not a cat. 🙂
My mother-in-law had an inflatable owl.
These are lovely flowers, I sympathise with your frustration but can offer no solution. The cat is very cute but I am doubtful that it would fool them. You can get Ultra-sound gadgets to scare cats. Would that work with rabbits? We cannot hear the noise but hopefully it would scare them. Amelia
I adore Virginia bluebells too. I hope the netting works for you. One sees it used frequently in Georgia at neighborhood entrances to keep rabbits and deer from eating the plants. Do you have to move the scary cat periodically? Will the rabbits figure out that the cat never moves?
We just got the cat, so these are all questions that will be explored with time.
I sure hope either of them work! Bunnies, chippers and squirrels are mean critters!
They certainly are!
Yes, I agree with your last statement! I planted Va. Bluebells from seed several years ago. It took them about three years to bloom, and then when they did, the rabbits ate them. Repeatedly applying rabbit repellent after the rain gets old fast. So I put cages and Alliums around them. I think I need more Alliums!
Daffodils seem to be working for me as a rabbit protection for the Tulips.
I’m so glad that netting helped provide your enjoyment of them! They’re wonderful plants.
Yes!
I do love your Virginia Bluebells so understand your need to protect them. The netting seems to be helping, and hopefully the cat will work, if it doesn’t it’s a lovely addition to the garden. xxx
Yeah, I like the cat just as a bit of garden art.
Aha! NOW I know why the small patch of bluebells that I planted two years ago simply disappeared: rabbits. I did not know that they were on the Favorite Food list. But now if/when I decide to try them again, I will try the netting. Do let us know if the cat silhouette works! 🙂
I’m discovering that rabbits have food fads just like people. So plants that seemed safe for years suddenly aren’t, which is very disturbing.
I love your title! Grubby rabbit paws, indeed! They haven’t gotten at my bluebells yet but I’m glad to know about the netting. Also the cat! That is really cool. Have you noticed whether it works as a deterrent?
The netting seems to work ok, the cat not so much.
Oh well, at least it is cool looking. How about a terrier? My Westie is committed to chasing rabbits, and I think they’ve gotten the message.
Judy hates dogs, so not an option.
Ahh, bummer.