Nursery Wildlife

    At Foothills, we tend to lean away from the use of pesticides. As a result we have all manner of wildlife and "critters" popping up throughout the nursery. We are not "organic", but as we learn, we try to be more conscious of what we're doing to our small world.

    Years ago, we visited a beautiful nursery that grows plants for one of the most popular of the gardening catalogues. They sprayed their entire nursery from top to bottom, several times a year with a concoction  of pesticides mixed in a huge drum on the back of a truck. (It reminded me of the DDT trucks that all of the other children were allowed to run behind when I was a little girl...thank you God that my parents had brains!)

    Although their plants were fantastic, the first thing that we noticed was the stillness.

    There were no birds or squirrels among the branches of the surrounding trees. Certainly no insects anywhere in sight. I wondered how many of their own pets had been poisoned!

    So...as a result of our strangeness, we have occasional...situations.

    In spring, the aphids attack the smaller river birches. We don't spray them. The lady bugs always come to save the day within a short period.

    A few years ago, the rabbits gained entry to a cold frame and "pruned" our hollies for us. Now, we have some terrific Holly Topiaries that people are beginning to think are "super neat".

    Last year, the catalpa trees were attacked and stripped by HUGE caterpillars. A visitor from Old Salem noted that these caterpillars were excellent bait for fishing...one of the reasons that you find the catalpa in Old Salem, North Carolina. (And yes, the leaves grew back in no time.)

    And, believe it or not, the groundhog from the kudsu patch in the fields beyond can occasionally be seen waddling through the conifer section. (Now, what the heck did he want?)

    So, if you visit us, please remember, you might see a bug or two, the chipmunks will most certainly run you over, and if your children bother my frogs...we're gonna' fuss!

Unhappy with photo quality...working to improve...

"Perfect Bunny"	Bunny after eating all of the parsley in the herb garden.
Tree Frog Snoozing on an Umbrella Magnolia after the hurricane passed through.
Green Frog Jus' Chillin' at the water garden.
Can you find the hummingbird?
Baby Doves: Napping in a Pot