Sometimes I turn an enticing packet of seeds over or lust over a delicate plant in a garden centre, whilst weighing up the likelihood of it becoming an exotic salad for our gourmand rabbit.
Very often, the Cornish garden has to balance the appetite of the wildlife in the countryside against the passions of the sea breezes blowing up from the bay. What will and can grow?
The rabbit’s job
“Sheltered home provided away from predators, supervised by a middle aged cat, in return for light lawn mowing duties.”
Rabbit duties – Ednovean Farm
Obviously they didn’t read the contract thoroughly, if at all.
Sadly some purchases are destined to be a delicious trifle to supplement the rabbit diet or a sacrifice to salt laden winds whilst working on the lawns that are meant to be their province.
At some times in the year it can be argued that they do a wonderful job. They discreetly emerge at night to nibble the swathe of grass. A perfect, green, eco option to the lawn robots that are so popular these days. If you have a country garden or even some town gardens you may have noticed the rabbit gourmet amongst the flower beds.
Well read on for a few planting suggestions that might not tempt the rabbit palette.
The seasonal preferences of the gourmet rabbit
As we emerge from winter, they delicately trim the grass around the daffodils to bowling green aspiration. Subsequently, through the spring they appear busy but do require a little supplementary help from the lawn mower. However by the summer an all out war has been declared as they sample the borders for fresher fare. Or should I say Fayre?
By early summer, they only offer occasional lawn mowing duties in return for their board and Charles can be found marching regularly around the garden as I follow him with the strimmer.
Their ambitions change to colonising the kitchen garden for the delights of lettuces, tomato plants. Naturally, it’s a resounding no to poisonous potatoes, but yes please to peas and beans.
This brings me back to the visit to the garden centre and choices the demon bunnies demand to shape the garden!
Opposite: – Wild iris or iris foetidissima. A native plant with berries poisonous to humans but that provide a valuable food source for birds in the wintertime.
Shaping the country garden – the balance of ornamentation versus wildlife
Swathes of lawn are a big tick for them of course, although they do have a slight burrowing habit. Likewise terracotta pots in the courtyard are fairly safe. They seem to dislike box and only nibble palms that are within easy reach.
Opposite Alliums have to be guarded fiercely. They only survive in the courtyard.
Of course statues are a sure fire, bet to defeat both rabbits and scorching winds. Additionally they have the benefit of not needing to be watered!
Rabbit proof plants
Rabbits have an unerring knowledge of poisonous plants of course, so euphorbia, echiums and digitalis all have a free ticket to grow unmolested. By the time the ornamental grasses emerge the rabbits are usually sated and Phormiums are just too much trouble for them to bother with.
Opposite cow parsley under the olive trees
The mixes of wild flowers are always ignored too – far too common for the gourmet bunny. So the ragged robin, borage remains untouched along with the cottage garden aquilegias and cat mint. From the Mediterranean palette the Echiums I’ve already mentioned, Irises and Agapanthus are a definite no from the rabbits.. Hence each year, I turn the delightful seed packet over with a sigh and return it to the shelf – a victim of the gourmand rabbit. But we do have a refined palate of rabbit proof planting!
Opposite – evening light
To stay at Ednovean farm this year do check out the vacancies listed on our reservation page.
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