<p>Hayden, there is a good reason I have the Great Wall of Chickenwire around my veggie garden. 
if only those bunnies could cut the lawn…</p>
<p>^^Cute little bunnies!! One year they mowed down my newly planted flower bed, $150 worth in one afternoon. They live a better life than I do. How often do I treat myself $150 meal let alone $150 salad.</p>
<p>Just googled bird netting. It looks like Home Depot stocks them. Off I go.</p>
<p>Word of warning with regard to netting; somehow my netting found it’s way off my tree, and managed to “catch” three very large, hissing snakes, over the course of about three days. </p>
<p><a href=“http://ucsantacruz.ucnrs.org/?page_id=1026[/url]”>http://ucsantacruz.ucnrs.org/?page_id=1026</a></p>
<p>I learned about animal control, who came each time to free and transport the snakes, no charge to me!</p>
<p>Edit; All gopher snakes. I think they might have been “discing” the abandoned orchard next to my yard.The first time I found two trapped snakes, not sure how long they’d been there. A cat was messing with them, and i heard them hissing. The following afternoon or so another. I hadn’t really had a chance to move the netting.</p>
<p>turns out this is not all this uncoimmon, and while googling it, I learned neither is this, which we have battled for at least a month;</p>
<p>"How we stopped a robin’s pecking at window glass
My wife and I have been battling robins at our rural Salem, Oregon home for many years. Almost every spring some crazed robin will obsessively peck at our bedroom windows, which are conveniently (for the bird) located next to a large oak tree.</p>
<p>The robin will sit on a branch, seemingly getting more and more irritated at another robin which has the gall to invade his territory during mating season. Of course, the other robin is his reflection in the glass, which makes it pretty damn difficult to chase the intruder away.</p>
<p>Back in 2003, I wrote about my frustrations with a bird who kept attacking my Volvo’s mirrors and windshield. I unaffectionately called him ■■■■■■■ Robin. Titling the post “Further evidence of male idiocy,” at that time I assumed that only guy robins engaged in this sort of behavior.</p>
<p>I’m no expert on bird behavior, but I believe these are the basic facts. ■■■■■■■ Robin wants to father some offspring. It isn’t enough that he screw some sweet young female robin. In his delusional, and seemingly infinitesimal, robin brain, he is determined to be the only male in the whole wide world screwing a sweet young female robin, so all the baby robins everywhere will carry on the genetic heritage of ■■■■■■■ Robin.</p>
<p>Hence, his singleminded determination to rid the neighborhood of other male robins. Now that makes some sense, I guess. But now the male idiocy kicks in, stimulated by what a character on Ally McBeal was fond of calling the man’s “dumb stick.”"…</p>
<p>?? What kind of snakes were those? Three of the same kind or three different kinds?</p>
<p>The funny thing is that I grow orchids, bonsai, and a whole host of plants which are hot house plants which don’t grow in our region at all - but I have problems with daisies and petunias. **** the bunnies.</p>
<p>The bird net is installed. Easy enough. I have a new worry; Would the net keep bees away too? Bees can get through if they know to aim dead center of each square. Somehow I don’t see that happening.</p>
<p>Igloo, there is a reason bug netting has teeny-tiny openings. 
Additionally, if your trees/bushes are done blooming, the pollinators’ job is over.</p>
<p>First round of the seasons in our new home here in New Jersey so slowly getting a feel for the plantings. There is a LOT of mint. Aside from mint juleps, what does one do with so much mint?</p>
<p>salsa?
[Pineapple-Mint</a> Salsa Recipe | MyGourmetConnection](<a href=“http://www.mygourmetconnection.com/recipes/side-dishes/sauces-condiments/pineapple-mint-salsa.php]Pineapple-Mint”>http://www.mygourmetconnection.com/recipes/side-dishes/sauces-condiments/pineapple-mint-salsa.php)</p>
<p>BB - I don’t think they are done blooming. It’s not clear cut, bloom stop and fruit. flowers/fruits all the time.</p>
<p>a LOT of mint? Good luck with it. Mint is the most vigorous plant I ever have seen.</p>
<p>Let’s start a list of “most vigorous plants” ( read; I had to MOVE!)</p>
<p>In inland N. Cal</p>
<p>wisteria!
Mexican Evening Primrose (Oenthera)
most honeysuckle</p>
<p>Rose of Sharon</p>
<p>Igloo, the bees will get through your netting just fine. :)</p>
<p>Mexican Petunia (Ruellia brittoniana) has gone crazy and spread through most of a flower bed. I learned too late that it’s invasive, but it sure is beautiful in bloom. On the north side of house in zone 7, no winter protection, and it’s unfortunately very happy. I may pull it all out and pot some of it up.</p>
<p>Black-eyed Susan migrated from neighbors back yard and is also spreading like crazy. Am constantly pulling it out. I grew Purple Cone Flower from seed and a lot of it has been pulled out.</p>
<p>My Nandinas propagate themselves everywhere, including in the gutters. Rose of Sharon has been shared with everyone I know, and I still have too much.</p>
<p>Flowers everywhere! And more kale, red romaine lettuce, Belgian endive, endive frissee, or broccoli raab than we can ever eat! And peas! peas! peas! Bean plants coming up nicely.</p>
<p>But I doubt we’ll get a single tomato, pepper, or eggplant this year. Too cold!</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>mini, I’m afraid you are right. :(</p>
<p>Plants that have gone crazy in our yard: lambs ear, morning glories, several kinds of mint (what was I thinking) and some other plants that don’t bother me. The lambs ear and morning glories I have been at war with for years and still they pop up.</p>
<p>Dear Mini and BB: okay, Portland is a little warmer but I am the only one in my neighborhood with any tomatoes (although mine are still green). I plant Oregon Spring (available as plants from Territorial Seeds) and Sungold Cherry tomatoes, both of which ripen very early and in colder conditions than most varieties. (I also plant Brandywine and Pineapple, both heirloom varieties that may or may not produce, depending on luck.) </p>
<p>But I think the biggest advantage I have is that I have concrete raised beds. These were put in by the previous owner. They really hold the heat from the day and create a much warmer environment at night, which I think makes a big difference with tomatoes. I do use cold caps when the plants are small, but mainly because they keep off the slugs–although I think they also help keep the plants from being beaten down by spring rains. If I didn’t have the raised beds, I think I would try large black ceramic pots.</p>
<p>I do have raised beds (as well as one tomato in a pot.) But this year I put my Marvelous Beans of the Piedmont in pots - their roots are less deep than tomatoes. They seem to be doing fine.</p>
<p>Beans have not been great. But the tomatoes/cucumbers/zuchini have been great. I have to give away most of them. Can’t eat them all.</p>