Public Enemy #1.....Bugs Bunny

So after living at my home for 1 year, I have found the rabbit population to be a large problem. By the end of this summer, 90% of my hostas were eliminated thanks to bugs bunny's early morning meal. Knowing this, I have to take into consideration planting rabbit deterring plants in my garden. I would imagine the bunnies (what my wife calls them) would target my vegetables. So I am starting to research plants that naturally repel rabbits. The list I will come up with will most likely border the garden to prevent "the bunnies" to feast on my vegetables. To keep with my goals, these plants must follow a certain criteria:
1. They must be native to Missouri
2. They need to be drought tolerable
3. Contribute to maintaining biodiversity (good at attracting bees, native humming birds and song birds)
4. Visually pleasing
5. Would help prevent the use of insecticide or herbicide.

So I would like any suggestion that would help control the bunny population. Some of the websites I have found extremely helpful include www.gardeninghelp.org which is a website established by the Missouri Botanical Gardens. I hope to have a detailed blueprint established by early spring of where I want certain plants to be located. So I am working on it now. Here are some of the plants that I like:


http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/images/low/L960-0901020.jpg
From the Missouri Botanical Garden's website I found Rhododendron 'Maxecat'. This plant, though not native to Missouri, does deter rabbits, attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and produces flowers.

Here are a couple of perennials that offer protection of rabbits and also attract hummingbirds. On the top are Ajuga reptans "Bugleweed" and on the bottom is Aquilegia 'Winky Blue and White'. Both are very pleasing to look at and fits most of the goals of the garden. I will continue to search for plants that will fight the bunny population. Thankfully we have "Bailey" are lab mix who is being trained to control the bunny population. Have a good Thanksgiving!

In the begining.......

Hello garden enthusiasts, my name is Kyle and I am starting at square one in becoming a home gardener.
My goal is to create a garden that will:
1. Provide my family with nourishing wholesome food
2. Create an area in my yard that will integrate native plants with edible plants and vegetables
2. Provide an outlet of serenity and peacefulness
4. Contribute to Earth's sustainability by reducing our carbon footprint and promote a "green-living" environment
5. Create an area of rich native biodiversity
6. Promote others to start a life of sustainability and true food for their bodies.

So I am starting my journey to accomplish these tasks. I have purchased my first home in St. Louis County and have a large yard to accomplish my goals. You may ask what has inspired me to build a garden? Well I am a teacher (Biology Teacher) and after teaching the importance of vegetables and fruits for the body, I feel that it is important for me to lead in example for my students. For my class, I taught the dangers of what proccessed foods can do to the body (take note that I had a McDonald's breakfast that morning) and I thought to myself why I don't follow my own teachings? I am not an effective teacher if I don't show to my students the importance of healthy living and eating. So here I am taking the steps to accomplish my goal. But I just don't want to just create a garden, I also want to contribute to Earth's sustainability. After taking an Ecology course this fall semester, I have learned the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and protecting biodiversity. So I have also taken the challenge of creating a garden that will contribute to reducing my family's carbon footprint and promote biodiversity by planting native plants.

This is a lot right? Well this is why I am blogging, because it is an excellent resource for getting ideas and talking with others that have same goals. I also hope to inspire others to lead a healthier life both physically and environmentally! So lets get to work and get dirty!