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Mary Lowther column: Attracting the things you want, heading off the varmints

Electronic devices that emit supersonic sound waves that allegedly drive mice away
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Garlic planted last fall, sprouting with warmer weather. (Mary Lowther photo)

By Mary Lowther

Some iniquitous varmints had been eating the seedlings in the flats on my seed table, so I set out a few traps that apprehended some mice in the traditional manner.

I may be naturally soft hearted, but I felt badly about using such extreme methods without first trying deterrence and bought two electronic devices that emit supersonic sound waves that allegedly drive mice away. Two people recommended them, and I felt it would be more humane to keep them away from temptation. The cat does not share my opinion, preferring our warm house to the potting shed. His opinion, therefore, is moot.

I only needed one supersonic device, but you can’t buy just one. This seems to be a universal sales practice. I bought a package anyway to see if they work, but would prefer a more sustainable solution. I have read that marigold protect other plants by attracting predators away from food plants and would love to find something that does the same for mice; perhaps some clever scientist can genetically modify a Venus flytrap.

I also bought a bare root rose bush from Dinter’s and planted it in a temporary spot, placed a tomato cage over it, wrapped plastic around it and filled the space with dried grass to keep it from freezing until I can properly plant it in two weeks, at which time things should have warmed up a bit. I plant roses near my vegetable garden because I love the smell, they attract bees and bloom all summer. Rose hips contain tons of vitamin C so I’ll harvest those as well.

We have a lovely heather bush that I intend to divide and plant among our fruit trees since heather blooms early and attracts early pollinators that move on to my fruit trees. I’ll also divide my lavender bush and propagate more of them, as the flowers make dandy sachets for Christmas presents. Maybe I can learn how to make lavender essential oil.

I sow flowers at the ends of every bed because they attract beneficial insects like pollinators and predatory insects, they smell good and look great. I have cosmos, zinnia, marigold, lupine, columbine and a few more that came in a butterfly-attracting flower seed packet. My brother-in-law gave me some sunflower seeds that I will sow on the north side of the garden so they won’t shade the other plants.

It looks like rosemary I propagated from stem cuttings and transplanted into the garden has died, so I’ll give them a couple more weeks, and if they don’t revive, I’ll try again. This time I’ll protect them from the cold next winter. I’m working on creating an herb bed, but have learned the hard way to keep oregano somewhere on its own because it’s as prolific as mint and sends shoots all over the garden. Chives should be fine as long as I keep them from spreading, and in the same bed I’ll sow as many herbs as I can, such as dill, savory and thyme. After a seemingly endless winter, spring is almost here, the Junco birds have arrived, the garlic has sprouted and the time has come where gardening transforms from a rewarding occupation to a delightful pastime.

Please contact mary_lowther@yahoo.ca with questions and suggestions since I need all the help I can get.