I guess I should consider myself lucky, as my "edible garden" has escaped the critters of the yard.....up until now.
My eggplant has been healthy, producing and most of all untouched by the critters of nature, providing the main ingredient of many recent meals. (sauteed with ginger, green onions and lots of garlic, served over brown rice, being one of my personal favorites).
I guess those days are over, a thief of the night has found it's way into my garden. Two days ago as I looked over the garden in the early morning, I noticed an eggplant had been snacked on. I immediately plucked it off the plant and discarded it. At that time I didn't take it too seriously. But the next day....the same thing, with a 2nd. eggplant, so I decided to leave it and see what happens. The photo above is that eggplant the next morning, perfectly scooped out and eaten. At least the little culprit went back to the same one he had gotten into the night before and left the others on the vine intact. They are still much smaller. I really don't know what I can do from here about this situation. I consider myself fortunate that it took this long for the critters to discover my garden and I realize that I have enough to share, within reason.
Recently, my three dogs have been digging down into my plants and they are in most definite "hunt" mode, especially Niko. I think that they are on to something. I believe that whatever animal is snacking on my eggplant, is also residing in my garden, right under my nose. I will have to keep an eye open and see if I can solve this little problem.
My eggplant has been healthy, producing and most of all untouched by the critters of nature, providing the main ingredient of many recent meals. (sauteed with ginger, green onions and lots of garlic, served over brown rice, being one of my personal favorites).
I guess those days are over, a thief of the night has found it's way into my garden. Two days ago as I looked over the garden in the early morning, I noticed an eggplant had been snacked on. I immediately plucked it off the plant and discarded it. At that time I didn't take it too seriously. But the next day....the same thing, with a 2nd. eggplant, so I decided to leave it and see what happens. The photo above is that eggplant the next morning, perfectly scooped out and eaten. At least the little culprit went back to the same one he had gotten into the night before and left the others on the vine intact. They are still much smaller. I really don't know what I can do from here about this situation. I consider myself fortunate that it took this long for the critters to discover my garden and I realize that I have enough to share, within reason.
Recently, my three dogs have been digging down into my plants and they are in most definite "hunt" mode, especially Niko. I think that they are on to something. I believe that whatever animal is snacking on my eggplant, is also residing in my garden, right under my nose. I will have to keep an eye open and see if I can solve this little problem.
