I've planted some mulberry trees and some American Cranberry Bushes. The ACBs are mature enough to produce berries, but the mulberries will take a few more years in the ground because I started them from whips. I usually provide fruit on a sturdy plastic plate on the patio table. This is a typical menu: apple chunks, a dollop of grape jam, a slice of orange, and raisins soaked over night. If they're on sale, I might throw in some red seedless grapes cut in half. As I said, mockingbirds adore the jam, but so do catbirds if you have them. They as well as cardinals and jays will eat the apple chunks. The orange slice is a favorite for woodpeckers and flickers, the Terminators of the ant world. Robins will come for the raisins and grapes. In the summer, put out the fruit just after you're finished gardening. It makes great after work entertainment and the robins will stick around for hours later to see what other edibles you have around the house. By the time a few months go by, they'll start coming around just when they see you outside with a shovel! There are many birds that eat insects during the summer but not during the winter, hummingbirds for example. So I would suggest having a good all around feeder set up to attract the most clients as possible. :)

ditnc, They are Jack Russell Terriers. Very small and cute and also extremely active and prey driven. They are great if you have an active lifestyle and most importantly a sense of humor...LOL Yea, not spoiled at all. They sleep in the bed, sideways and stretched out, mind you. They turn their head to the side and look at me like I am crazy when I tell them that some dogs sleep outside...LOL. They get home prepared food every day. They have 2 freezers full of meat in the garage. I have only one fridge for us in the kitchen. I think they eat better than we do. Extensive collection of collars and winter coats...I can go on...LOL. They are my children. Sadie, the one in the first pic, has her own strawberry pot as well. My current foster dog, not pictured, is very fond of apricots and ate every one that fell off the tree this year. Ania

Scale in the hedge. Cannot tell what the white spots are, the photos are too blurry. Could be immature scale, if they are in the same area, could be mealy bugs, could be white flies. If you can post a photo that is in focus, we might be able to tell you a little better. Patty S.

My first piece of advice is for you to acknowledge you have invaded their territory and now you have to play by their rules. You can spend enormous amounts of energy fighting them and getting nowhere. You'd be better off outthinking them and trying to find some form of compromise. Raised beds, really raised beds, at least 24" minimum, 36" is better, and stiff wire mesh coverings will slow down the rabbits. Hog panels can be manipulated into good bunny barriers. What kind of rabbit do you have? Desert cottontails or ? They're hungry this time of year and are coming into breeding season. Do you have the funds and the room to keep a bale of alfalfa hay and a salt lick way out in the back 40 somewhere? Give them something to eat away from your garden. Keep an eye on the coyotes, they'll raid a veggie garden too. While we're on coyotes, what kind of animal of are they attacking? Yes rattlesnakes hide in bushes, that's what they do. Have you tried turning the hose on them to make want to leave? They're probably hanging around because of the rabbits. Of course you might have pack rats too, just as tasty! Are the critters coming up for water perhaps?