This will be our 3rd Spring season in our "new to us" house. For the better part of 2.5 years, we have been nursing a little pussy willow bush that seems to be struggling to exist. At first, I thought this was only due to zealous grass cutting, but once we both acknowledged that the planting existed, (and wasn't a figment of our imaginations) we started to cut the grass around the tender shoots to let it become established.
I was really hoping it was going to present to be a small lilac bush...but it never recovered enough, from one season to the next, to grow leaves. This made identifying it, well, a bit troublesome to say the least.
This was going to be its first year to show us what it was...
I noticed a few days ago that it had some buds and I was waiting to see what would develop from those very compact nodes...
WAS is the operative word...it appears as if my friend Donald has beat me to it. I now have proof of the dastardly deed. (You can even see the little pussy willow buds...too...Darn it!)
Caught in the sneaky act:
Nothing with new shoots and tender bark is safe.
The nerve!!! With a piece hanging right out of his mouth, as I bellowed "NOoooo"!
Smug. He didn't even slap his tail at me!!! Which means he wasn't scared of me and he arrogantly swam away for now, looking back to see when it would be safe to double back and finish the job.
I expect to wake-up tomorrow to a few nubs left, if I'm lucky.
Next year, a cage around this bush will be installed to protect it. Yes folks, that's what life has become...
It even makes me laugh out loud for real. Bill Murray and his gophers...pleeeease. :D
I may welcome your comments on this one...follow me if you dare.
~Rebecca RyanÂ