Dutch Develop Deer & Squirrel Resistant Bulbs Collection

A couple of months ago in June we listed various alleged ways for discouraging squirrels. Now in an effort to ward off deer we must add such sources as bars of soap, tiger dung, coyote urine, even human hair and male urine – at least if one can believe recommendations made by frustrated home gardeners and professional horticulturists alike, from coast to coast, generation to generation.

Now all of the North American gardening fraternity can wander down to their favourite garden centre and look for what those clever folk in Holland have devised to solve the problem: a deer and squirrel resistant bulb rack. These consists of the following:

• Allium caeruleum
• Allium Globemaster
• Camassia Blue Medley
• Colchicum autumnale
• Daffodil Accent
• Daffodil Dutch Master
• Daffodil Golden Ducat
• Daffodil Ice Follies
• Daffodil Jetfire
• Daffodil Tête-à-tête
• Daffodil Tresamble
• Fritillaria meleagris
• Galanthus nivalis
• Hyacinth Delft Blue
• Hyacinth Pink Frosting
• Hyacinthoides hispanica
• Muscari armeniacum
• Muscari White Magic
• Nectaroscordium
• Scilla siberica Spring Beauty
• Tulipa The Woodland Tulip

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In fact many gardeners have long noted that all forms of daffodils (Narcissus), snowdrops (Galanthus), grape hyacinths (Muscari) and Scilla are avoided by squirrels and deer. Certainly the autumn crocus, Colchicum, is poisonous to humans, although authorities seem to view many other bulbs differently. Then again, for those not content with a passive defense but who insist on taking sterner measures, we have our mother-in-law’s celebrated concoction, which she calls ”Mark’s Recipe for Skunks, Raccoons, Squirrels, Etc.” Why ‘Mark’ neither we not she have any idea – but she swears by it, just as the critters swear at it. In a blender, liquefy a bulb of garlic, one chopped onion, two tablespoons Tabasco, two tablespoons cayenne pepper, 2 or 3 drops oil, a tablespoon dish detergent, in a litre water; spray on affected area.