Sue it sounds like deer. In the spring they ate my leaves as they were emerging. But, last week, just the buds on one of my dl's, my strawberry plants and leaves off my cherry trees. Didn't touch my hostas right next to the DL or any of my roses. I was lucky they only ate the buds off one of my noids and the buds from one scape on the dl next to it. There were hoof prints in the mud where I had watered the night before so I'm positive it was deer. I mix 2 eggs with a gallon of water and mist my dl's once every other week. Seems to be working.... Knock on wood. Andrea

Hi, Bluegrassmom. Fortunately, there are not many deers running around my development. If there are, I am sure they would go for my rose bushes first. It looks like the culprit is the squirrel. They run rampant around here. With two neighbors growing 4 oak trees, it is inevitable. It started innocently enough, this peony love. I bought a few peonies to try several years ago. Then I added a few more. Then there were the sales that I couldn't pass up so I added a few more. Then I saw photos of oh so beautiful peonies posted on GW, and I gotta to grow these peonies too. Before I know it, I have added over 100 peonies to the home garden. It is crazy. But every spring that I see their blooms, it seems to be all worth it. I have gotten some new itoh peonies this fall that I am very excited about and can't wait to see their first bloom.

..."Since the rains started here I have lost several cactus"... Isn't initial problem too much rain that possibly caused rotting that attracted bugs of any kind? Just like a flies/grubs feeding on decaying flesh (or even fresh, uncallused wound)...they didn't cause death of it, but certainly take advantage of feeding and laying eggs on their favorite...Too much rain could be the reason, and larvae or any bugs (likely laying more eggs!) a consequence of it. I would assure all succulents are in very fast draining mix, in containers with excellent drainage (holes) and if rains are persistent, perhaps use some extra rain protection. Even just an outdoors umbrella helps, or if many plants, plastic sheet or similar temporary protection.

re: the raccoons. My brother said one of the reasons we are seeing so many is that the pelts are worth next to nothing, mostly nothing. One guy he knows had amassed a large number of the furs. When he took them to the buyer, the buyer said he (hunter) may as well go burn them as no one is buying them anymore. Apparently the oversea markets that used to buy them are not interested in importing raccoon furs anymore, or just not permitted to do so. What I think was a groundhog recently tried burrowing under the sandstone foundation of my house. I noticed it early enough that I threw the dirt back in besides chunks of concrete and set a large concrete piece up against the hole. Nearby, there was a shallow hole in the ground. I did what I usually do with groundhog holes - I poured used kitty litter into it. I keep checking, so far no more activity in these spots.