They're Seedlings, Not Snacks

I'm thrilled to report that the squirrels (the top suspects in the mysterious disappearance of my sunflower seedlings earlier this season) haven't taken a single nibble of the new cosmos seedlings. I notice new additions that have sprouted each time I take a look, so I think they're going to stick around. The cosmos, I mean. I know the squirrels aren't going anywhere.

On the other hand, my new lily of the valley hasn't escaped the attention of the trouble-makers. Every time I check the pot, the soil inside has been dug up and the rootings are askew. So I've come up with a low-tech, no-cost, environment-friendly and somewhat attractive deterrent. Using flat stones that had been piled in a bucket waiting to be of use, I covered the dirt surface, leaving spaces for new growth:

I'm anxious to see if this works. Hopefully the squirrels, thwarted in one of their favorite pastimes, won't find some even more damaging mischief to get into.