Hi-thanks for the responses!

I have my trillium covered for now (and will probably cover the bluebells-I just bought 30 more one dollar wire baskets from the "dollar store". It is not, of course, a good long term plan, but I figure it will let them get established and then a nibble or two wouldnt be catastrophic.

It would be really interesting to have a discussion between people that get alot of damage from animals and those that do not. It may help us pinpoint some important deciding factors that lead to some long term solutions.

Of the top of my head I would guess that there is less damage in established plants. Do you all find this? I think that they just have to taste anything new - like changes attract their attention. I think digging up beds attracts more attention than just slyly slipping a plant in. I would also guess that less crowded and less domestic areas (more native species overall in the mile or so circumference and less foreign species) get less problems than an area that is split up two acre squares of foreign grass and a couple native flowers. But all this is guesses.

I get moderate damage, but I have a pond that draws animals right through my woodlands. I like the animals and if it comes to animals or plants the animals win. But I really want both and I am a very stubborn woman.

One of the things I am doing is planting native species that spread faster that animals can eat when it is established. I dunno if it will work or not, but I do know that there is little damage in late spring to early fall when food is plentiful and any real problems occure when food is scarce. Of course one has to have enough room to be able to plant food sources AWAY from choice treasures *grin*.

All in all we have to work at increasing awareness of "the masses", because if we split the entire country into two acre lots that have been bulldozed flat and replanted with foreign species and mowed lawns then we just cannot have some of these species unless we turn summersaults to protect them.

I think these are some important issues for all of us to discuss and be leaders in.

PAX
Laurette