Ground Squirrels Archives – Strength Of The Small

Ground Squirrel Garden Decor Family Gardening High Desert

Yard Updates

By JM PerezJuly 27, 20132 min read769 views

Today has been a busy day for us and quite rewarding too.

While visiting Linda Marie’s Enchanted Treasures yesterday, I spotted a gorgeous set of Terracotta Pots/Planters which I ended up purchasing (amongst other things). Beautiful hand made clay pots with a flat back to rest neatly against a wall or fence. Each wall pot has two holes in the back for hanging and one more at the base for draining. They are a wonderful choice for growing trailing plants, but I am sure they would look as lovely just the way they are without any greenery in them. The simple green bow accent add charm to the Planters.

Before the sun set down yesterday, we installed and buried the last section of drip system needed for the new additions to the backyard. Plants do well on a timed watering schedule as opposed to manual watering (since it can vary on the individual’s personal schedule). Now that this project has been completed, we will move on to other partially started projects on the list. Cutting down the Sweet Almond Tree doesn’t sound bad, either.

*Ground Squirrel standing on its hind legs.*

I have come to love the Sweet Almond Tree growing in one corner of my front yard. I love the sight of its bareness in the Fall after all the leaves have fallen. I love watching those tiny bud formations turn into delicate white and pink flowers as early as late Winter. Thanks to a few reluctant ground Squirrels, we will cut down the tree. Fencing the backyard and securing openings around the wooden fence are not enough to keep them away from the tree. The depth and amount of holes they dig on a consistent basis is overwhelming to say the least. As much as it hurts me to part with the tree, I know I will gain peace of mind and more time to invest in the Family.

On a much happier note, I did some gardening today. Keeping the kids busy in the pool and getting my hands dirty (uninterrupted) put a smile on my face. To reduce the amount of Rose bushes I have in my front yard, I dug out a couple which I transplanted to an ideal location in the backyard. Last month I relocated a couple and they are thriving in their new location. As you know, Roses are one of the toughest plants around and with proper preparation, your chances for a successful transplant will be high regardless of the time of year (learn more).

I am so grateful for my huge yard with its endless possibilities and opportunities. Living and Gardening in the High Desert is quite challenging and so rewarding. My gardening success is mainly attributed to choosing the right plants for my garden and more important, the right plants for my zone. I lovingly tend to them as I would with any other living thing. One of my goals is to surround my garden with a lot more Native Plants.

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By JM Perez

Animals Ground Squirrel Gardening High Desert

Life of a Busy Squirrel

By JM PerezJune 8, 20132 min read778 views

I had planned on tending to my plants today, but my attention got drawn to one particular Squirrel.

From my bedroom window, I caught the squirrel on the first picture (left) climbing on the planter and eating some of the Clarkia Amoena. As I ran outside to chase it off, it ran straight to its burrow, which is located at the next door neighbor’s backyard. When we built the Primitive 3 Legged Plant Stand early this year to raise it from the ground and prevent the Rabbits from eating the plants, I didn’t foresee Squirrels in the big picture. Just a few minutes later, I spotted the same squirrel next to our storage shed, wondering if it was safe to get into the basement, after damaging some of my Horsetail plants (picture on the right).

Either this Squirrel is starving or it just loves coming into our property. On the picture below (left), it found a nut somewhere in the backyard and it’s busy eating it. From he picture on the right, it’s just relaxing in the front yard underneath the Raywood Ash Tree. Life must be good or something for this little creature.

Squirrel Eating & Relaxing. — *Squirrel enjoying a nut & Relaxing.*

As I went to close the gate leading to the backyard, I spotted the little creature underneath the Sweet Almond Tree, enjoying a few Almonds. This Squirrel is fearless. I can’t believe how close I got to it before it ran off.

I guess after eating so many Almonds, it’s time to take a break and relax. Prior to that, it damaged and ravaged most of the plants in search of my Tulip and Crocus bulbs, seeds and digging up new sprouts. There was nothing funny about watching this varmint go through my garden the way it did. All the money spent on the plants and the energy spent in getting everything looking the way I wanted seemed to have vanished in an instant. I will be using an underground bulb cage for my next Fall bulb planting (click here for a tutorial in building yours).

So far, all attempts to get these Squirrels from our property have failed. For one we are thinking about removing all the Oleanders along the chain link fence in the backyard and installing wood fencing or Slats (none of these will prevent them from coming over; but it might slow them down as they will have to work harder).
For now, we set up a trap in one of their favorite locations. If it works, I will share the information with those of you dealing with sneaky Squirrels as well as other rodents in your yards.

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By JM Perez

Ground Squirrel Weather

Hungry Squirrel in The Garden

By JM PerezMay 23, 20132 min read489 views

The weather has been unpredictable and unstable these past days. I have been spending so much time at the Windows, watching the wind move dead leaves around. I am amazed at how much needles from our Pine Needle Tree have fallen and spread all over the ground. Such a sight is a reminder that we need to cut down the Pine tree, which will give us additional room to extend our deck.

I have missed going outside and tending to my plants.
While preparing lunch early in the afternoon, I took a minute to look out the window to my surprise. Mr. Squirrel had made his way to my front yard in search of something. Food, I presume. Ground Squirrels eat insects such as ants, grasshoppers and termites. They also eat seeds and vegetation (especially in Summer). They have numerous burrows which are surrounded by hills of dirt in my next door neighbor’s backyard and they seems to come to my property for food. This is the first time they have come this close and we know something has to be done.

Together with the family, we watched FernGully: The Last Rainforest and FernGully 2: The Magical Rescue. We are looking forward to the release of Epic, tomorrow. Also on our movie list today were Ponyo, The Castle of Cagliostro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Porco Rosso, My Neighbor Totoro, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Castle in the Sky, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Spirited Away, Steamboy as well as other movies from the legendary anime film makers Hayao Miyazaki and Katsuhiro Otomo. These are awesome animated movies and a few of my kids favorite.

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By JM Perez

Animals Ground Squirrel Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Mr. Squirrel, Unwanted Tenant

By JM PerezMay 14, 20132 min read465 views

Can someone make this wind go away already? I surprised myself yelling. High Desert weather is erratic. We can never be too prepared as it’s difficult to tell what is coming our way. One minute it’s hot and the next your running towards coverage. There’s so much dust and dirt flying around. It’s such a lovely day and I wish we could all go outside, sit on the swings with a glass of sweet tea and be amused by our unwanted tenant, Mr. Ground Squirrel.

For a month now, we have failed at capturing a fearless ground Squirrel, which has been coming into our property regardless of the steps we’ve taken to keep it out. It doesn’t eat anything, just interested in digging holes (one of the holes goes all the way down to our storage basement). It climbs and sits in the motor area of one of our cars. It sits pretty in the shade and stares right back at us like it was our beloved pet or something. I have caught it standing on its hind legs looking all around like “yeah, this is the life and it’s all mine.” I laughed so hard a couple of days ago when my husband said it wasn’t a regular Squirrel. Ever since it made its appearance, we haven’t seen Rabbits or Gophers around. In a way it keeps anything else out, but we need to rid our yard of it.

In spite of the erratic weather, we are having fun indoors, watching movies and snacking on healthy treats.

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By JM Perez