There are a few of the (much tougher) species tulips you might like to try. Firstly, the tiny t.humilis, in various colours. Taller, but lovely with blooms which open flat like little flying saucers - tulipa clusiana, aka the lady tulip - pink and white or pale yellow and soft red. T,Tarda - small yellow and white, very easy and will increase T.batalini - my favourites (apart from sprengeri - more later) - lovely glaucous foliage and pale yellow or apricot blooms - very reliable T.praestans, t.hageri, t.vvedensky (sp?) - all reds and oranges - often multi-headed, larger fatter leaves T,urumiensis - a tiny bronze and pale yellow. T,albo-caerulea - expensive but unique blue and white blooms Finally, my favourite (and last to bloom) the lovely t.sprengeri. These use root droppers to dig themselves 14inches deep into the soil and have tiny bulbs - unlikely to be eaten and are the only tulips which will grow in some shade. A lovely woodland clearing specimen. I find that the species tulips, as long as they get good drainage and a dry baking in summer, are totally reliable, easy and are often less devoured by other rodents....as well as being more interesting and unusual than the garden tulips (although I grow many of both).

Carol - those pesky varmints! i have had rather good luck with my feeder on a 7-foot pole where i have attached (don't laugh -- it does work!) a metal Slinky from the top with a zip-tie, stretching it out very slightly and leaving the bottom loose. it slides downward nicely when a squirrel tries to climb from the ground -- so far, it has foiled them every time. i've done this for the past 3 years.... do you have those clear baffles that hang on top of the feeders? they can help to a degree. this year, i have bought a new feeder that is pretty much GUARANTEED to keep the squirrels O-U-T: you can check it out at rollerfeeder.com. pricy, but it looks great, tough construction, is made in the USA, and according to the testimonials, really works, saving lots of $$ on buying seed. so far, i really love mine. good luck!

I see no orange on this bird, either. I thought, first thing, "Crested Caracara," then "Northern Goshawk," based on its overall coloring and the habitat. The habitat seems wrong for a Caracara, but we had one visiting us in redwood country not long ago, eating at several deer carcasses along Highway One and the bird appeared several weeks later (assuming it was the same one) in Oregon. . . While a Northern Goshawk *would* be feathered farther down on the legs, take a closer look at this photo, then turn to page 190 in the NGFG, and check out the feathering on the legs of the Goshawk (imm) in the painting: the feathers are farther down, yes, but they are sweeping back, as in the bird in the photo. A Northern Goshawk *would* go after prey as large as a squirrel. I sincerely doubt a Cooper's would take prey that large. . .

I've never had to deal with that problem, but I would see if there is a nearby government pest control department or check with a professional pest control company. Also, if there is any food source that encourages them to stick around (bird feeders or garden), I would make sure that is removed. I'm quite certain that the only solution will be some method of killing them. Transporting them to a distant location is basically the equivalent, since they won't have their accustomed food sources or protective nest, so will succumb to starvation or predation. A quick, humane death is preferable. Could you get or borrow one of the small breeds of dog who are designed for this work? Tie it to the tree you are concerned about, and that might help. But, the roots might suffer even more damage. Good luck with your problem. Martha