Teaching Garden Update: Squirrels Were Thirsty

TSo much happening in the teaching garden. @zilkerbotanicalgarden this last Saturday. Thanks volunteers for helping tend the veggie garden! The Datura or Jimsonweed was looking beautiful this week so we took our group shot next to it. (We relocate hornworm to this nightshade plant when we find them on our tomatoes!!!)

We were bummed to see the squirrels had gnawed though every kernel of corn in the milpa or #threesisters bed. Apparently humans decided that squirrels need more corn because there is a market for "Squirrel Picnic Table Feeder with Corn Cob and Peanuts." 🤦🏻‍♀️

The squirrels also snacked on the tomatoes and a few of our baby watermelons. We fortified the sweet orange watermelon with bricks holding down the chicken wire cloche.

The snacking happened before the recent rain. When it is hot and dry, squirrels may eat tomatoes, cucumbers, or other juicy produce from the vine because they’re thirsty. Some people have reported that placing a dish of water (or bird bath) nearby helps. Hopefully the rain will help keep the squirrels at bay but we are also going to look at adding another water element nearby.
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We still had plenty to harvest including tomatoes, peppers, okra, basil and Japanese shiso. Danielle Basil had everyone off on snacking on raw burgundy okra. Yum!