Somehow I skipped right over Sunday's Green Thumb column in The Press-Citizen, our local newspaper, but I noticed it while browsing news of our primary election results today. Judy Terry lists some (mostly) deer-proof perennials, and also provides a few suggestions on how to keep rabbits out of the garden.
The breaking news of importance to our little plot? Rabbits hate the smell of marigolds. Maybe that's why I've only been spotting them in other people's yards lately…
on Jun 7th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
I’m not too fond of the smell myself
on Jun 8th, 2006 at 12:29 am
Ha ha! Is your Jack Russell chasing you? Are you reeeeeally a rabbit?
:-) Genie
on Jun 8th, 2006 at 9:39 am
Deer and rabbits may not like marigolds and zinnias, but my local squirrels LOVE them!
on Jun 8th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Jeanne, do the squirrels eat them? Or just go right by them on the way to the rest of your garden?
Genie
on Jun 10th, 2006 at 9:18 am
I know this comment is a bit behind times, but I thought I would let you know . . . rabbits (at least in Minnesota) not only don’t mind the smell of marigolds, they will even eat marigolds. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself. And, even if the Iowa rabbits don’t like them, they will most likely just go around the marigolds to get to what they want.
I have found, after a few years of heartbreak, that nothing keeps rabbits away from plants except some sort of fence.
on Jan 3rd, 2008 at 7:23 pm
The squirrels in my garden in the UK love to eat French dwarf marigolds but dislike the taste of African marigolds!
They also like to eat Tulip bulbs but hate alliums.
Truly connoisseurs!
on Jan 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Henry, that’s pretty funny — gourmet squirrels, eh?