I'm so sorry to hear about your collection. I hate losing plants in this way. I no longer bring my plants outside in the spring because the squirrels have "too much fun" with them. I've heard about using any mixture of hot peppers / coyote urine and such to keep "pests" away. I don't use any, personally. I just use mechanical methods such as what others have suggested. Sadly, I don't grow any of those genera otherwise I'd be happy to share / help you rebuild your collection. Good luck to you, Jude On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 9:35 PM Marc Rosenblum via pbs < pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > I find that the best way to protect my bulbs is to totally surround them > with a wire cage. The mesh should be tight enough to keep rodents out; > but, open enough for you to enjoy the plants through the wire. > > Marc Rosenblum, Falls City, OR Zone 8b > > > On 12/28/2023 9:55 AM, John Wickham via pbs wrote: > > I've had squirrels do the same. They see me around the pots and think > I'm stealing their acorns. As a result, I built tables with a tall frame > and placed netting over the structure. It kept the squirrels out, but > created a safe space for other rodents who promptly ate the Lachenalia down > to nothing. Last year, I built a raised bed and planted my Gladiolus, > Lachenalia, Adrocymbium, Ferraria, and Moraea, as well as Calochortus, > Toxicoscordion, Odontostomum, California Alliums, and Dichelostemma, in the > bed. The bed is located in an open area and is not covered. During the day, > the squirrels leave it alone because it is open and I suspect they don't > want to be lunch for the local hawks. And during the night, other rodents > stay away due to owls. The entire collection is much happier being in a > deep bed and there hasn't been any predation. I'm able to do this since my > L.A. winters are relatively mild. But maybe there are other options > available to you that similarly play on the behaviors of the pests you are > managing. > > John WickhamLos Angeles, CA > > > > On Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 09:17:54 AM PST, Jan Jeddeloh via > pbs <pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > > > > That is really awful. You must just feel sick about. Gladiolus and > freesia aren’t interests of mine but I know how bad I’d feel if my > collection was destroyed. I hope people can help you replace it. > > > > Jan Jeddeloh, Portland, Oregon. > > > >> On Dec 28, 2023, at 8:55 AM, Gianni Benetti via pbs < > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> wrote: > >> > >> My extensive collection of South African Gladiolus and Freesia was > >> destroyed in a few days by mice ! The pots were in the greenhouse, but > the > >> mice got in, sheared the plants and tore the bulbs apart: a disaster ! I > >> owned at least fifteen species laboriously collected over the years, > some > >> still young, some about to bloom. It is amazing how the work of many > years > >> can be destroyed in a few hours. > >> I appeal to Gladiolus and Freesia collectors to be able to recover at > least > >> part of my collection. Those who are willing to give me bulbs (even > buying) > >> starting next late spring please contact me privately. Thank you. > >> > >> Gianni Benetti > >> Italy > >> _______________________________________________ > >> pbs mailing list > >> pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > >> https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > >> Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > >> PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net > https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… > Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> > PBS Forum latest: > https://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbsforum/index.php/… > -- The Silent Seed Rare and Unusual plants from around the world. thesilentseed.com _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net https://lists.pacificbulbsociety.net/cgi-bin/… Unsubscribe: <mailto:pbs-unsubscribe@lists.pacificbulbsociety.net> PBS Forum https://…