Well Jack, you are wrong, again! I did not "do a search for 'are there any vegetables that critters will not eat' when you already knew the answer was no". You see, after I finished reading all of these wonderful and informative comments, I did further research and LEARNED (because I am still capable of admitting I don't know everything) that deer/critters in one area will eat some things while deer/critters in other areas eat other things and that most vegetables will ultimately be subject to deer/critter consumption. But you have to admit you have a way of going off topic.

Summersoff, I believe the plant you have in the first photo is Chamaedorea elegans, also known as Parlor Palm. As to if it will grow into a larger palm from it's current size, I cannot say (I do not know that much about this particular plant, but at least a name will help you if you want to research it online). As to the second photo, I saw one of these just the other day, I don't remember what it stated the species was, but it is a species of Dracaena, I think it might be Dracaena sanderiana, which is also known as Lucky Bamboo. Lucky Bamboo as you mentioned, is also a species of Dracaena, not bamboo as some people think. It looks to me that the stems present on this plant are stems of the plant itself, but its top growth (leaves) has been stunted (by growing the plant so its stems become a certain thickness and then chopping off the top section of growth, causing new "shoots" to form at the tops, creating the foliage you see). To me, it looks like a really thick version of Lucky Bamboo, which makes me think it might be Dracaena sanderiana. It is similar to your Corn Plant, which is also a species of Dracaena (usually Dracaena fragrans). However, your Corn plant is not growing on its original stem (see below). Just some information on your Corn plant in case you didn't know but were interested: It is a piece of cane rooted in the soil (the foliage on top of the corn plant is the Dracaena fragrans) with some Dracaena "grafted" or "air layered"-- I don't know exactly how they do it-- into the cane which creates what you see and know as a Corn Plant. I hope this information has been helpful. Planto

I am definitely experiencing that same thing with my hollyhocks. Did you ever find a solution and did you identify pack rats?

Much of California is hotter than Hell (100s F.) in summer east of the outermost coastal fringe*, hence the chronic problem with dangerous fires. With a number of the native species - including various ceanothus - growing only close to the ocean in nature. Even a lot of the redwood area has a hot summer, with fog drip being a large part of what makes it possible for these giant trees to live there. *Death Valley is located in California