Fruits (and vegetables) of our labor

At long last and with much anticipation, we reap the rewards of our little garden in suburban Wheaton! Tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, onions, red and green cabbage, lettuce, peppers, carrots, and cauliflower! Mint, cilantro, Italian and Thai basil, dill, oregano, and rosemary! Only the beets and green beans have fallen victim to two hungry rabbits who haunt the garden daily. We managed to eat one beet (it was wonderful) before they could swipe it.

Everyday when I go out to water, I would see either one or both of them frozen in their tracks in various spots of the garden. I would yell and scream, "Hey! Go! Shoo!" I guess they don't understand my frantic ranting and potent "shooing" technique of jumping up and down while flailing my arms around like a crazy woman. Nope, these fearless creatures remain as stone-faced as Michelangelo's "Statue of David." The nerve of these little monsters! Who do they think they are? They're mocking me! Probably giggling to themselves as they feast on our bounty all the while saying to each other in rabbit jargon something like "Ha! Ha! Does that crazy lady with glasses truly think she can scare us away when this is OUR garden?"

The rabbits aren't the only critters driving me insane. We also have pesky chipmunks. Sure, you may think, "Chipmunks? But they're so cute...you know, Chip and Dale?" Cute? Are you kidding me? These annoying and wicked little devils are the bane of my existence! They nibbled on 80% of our strawberries this season. Every time the kids would go to pick one from our humble patch, they would find the fruit ruined by tiny bite marks. Not only were these rodents dining on our precious few strawberries but they didn't have the decency to finish their meal! Oh yes, they would spoil it for everyone else! When we saw a berry on the verge of ripening, we hoped and prayed that it would remain pristine by the time it was ready to be picked. Almost without fail, our hopes were dashed.

These diminutive demons also dig holes in each of my flower pots (I have nine in total). Daily, I find dirt strewn out and around my pots. So, I refill the pots with dirt. The next day holes reappear and more dirt thrown about. It goes on day after day and has manifested into a very unwelcome routine.

So, instead of finding peace and harmony in my backyard, I find myself fuming and plotting the demise of these rogue rabbits and contemptible chipmunks. I am at the end of my rope!

My husband has offered to "off" them for me but I can't really go there yet. Apparently there is some sort of trap out there to ensnare these creatures and release them back into the "wild." I am definitely going to have to look into it. I certainly welcome any suggestions!

In the meantime, I have to stop fretting about these furry menaces and focus on the wonderful harvest that is trickling in. Unfortunately, we won't be receiving nearly as good a yield as previous years due to the cooler summer weather. But, it is still delightful to bite into our very own homegrown organic and pesticide-free summer tomatoes. Juicy, full of flavor and just plain to die for! No summer is complete without them.

Oh, lovely tomatoes, how we will miss you in winter!