WORKING WITH NATURE

Because Odette (my Yorkshire Terrier) insists on running over my planting blocks and trampling the baby plants some changes are in order. She views the blocks as her private hunting reserve for lizards and stands on top of the blocks for the elevated view of the hunting terrain. Whenever I take my eye's off of her she is back in the rock garden bounding over the blocks in hot pursuit of another lizard who is trying to escape the maniac dog chasing them. She views the chase as great dog fun.





I like the lizards in the garden as a natural form of bug control. The bugs hunt my plants, the lizards hunt the bugs and Odette hunts the lizards. It all seems to work as nature intended except for my plants getting trampled.



So for the good of the general order and to make everyone happy I decided to make a capitol investment. I went to Home Depot and purchased some 14 guage welded wire fence.
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A fifty foot roll set me back $27.00 plus tax.

















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Then using my electrical pliers I began forming individual cages to slip over the planting blocks


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The cages have holes 2 inches by 4 inches . This is just big enough for my hand to slip inside to work with the plant. The lizards can escape inside and the cages keep Odette out of the blocks. I am in the process of making one cage for each block. Some I plan to make at different heights so the larger plants can grow inside the cage and up through the top.


















My first attempt at cage building. The cage fits right over the brick and the new plant is protected. The plant (in this case a Park's Hibrid Pearl Cucumber) can grow right up through the cage top and onto the stake.





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If I need to the cage can be covered with screen to cut the wind damage. It can also be covered with chicken wire to keep the birds out of my new plants.

I expect the cages will last many seasons and are really sturdy. Cool.

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Odette can still have her fun and my plants are safe in the caged blocks.





























Now if I can just keep her out of trouble until The rest of the cages are finished. ...sanddune....

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NOTE: WHAT DO YOU THINK? YOUR COMMENTS, IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. THANKS.


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