I think I've finally figured out after all these years why my raspberries don't get stolen by the chipmunks in the fall. They get stolen in the summer, but not very much now. The reason is my dogwood tree.
I have a very beautiful kousa dogwood that I planted when I moved into this house. It is planted in my fruit garden next to the raspberries, because every fall it puts out pretty red fruit. The fruit is edible, or so I've been told, but it is not supposed to appeal to the human palate. However, the birds and squirrels (and I'm assuming chipmunks) love these fruit. I often see the squirrels doing acrobatics trying to reach the fruit on the branches. The birds hang upside down and eat them. They look very silly.
And they leave their droppings all underneath the tree. The skin is obviously not loved, but the interior is always hollowed out and eaten. They must love it more than the raspberries, since they have been left alone so far.
You have to love (or should it be hate) the squirrels. I have two pagoda dogwoods that the squirrels eat the new shouts and the skunks eat the bark at the base. The dogwoods can't win in my yard. Beautiful specimens though.
ReplyDeleteI've added you to my blog roll, nice blog, I think I found it through dp's blog.
Hurrah, for the dogwood tree! Clever of you to place it there. That is a good bit of information to share with the rest of us. I never would have thought to do that.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Barbee, what a clever way to keep the chipmunks away from those raspberries. I wasn't aware that Dogwoods got fruit. Very interesting looking too.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a fair trade. :)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a dogwood with fruit before. It does make sense though as to why the chipmunks are now leaving your raspberries alone. Yea for the dogwood! I have been envious of your raspberries for weeks now. They look so perfect.
ReplyDeleteI have also noticed everything loves the dogwood seed. We have pileated woodpeckers in the woods behind us we don't see too often until this time of year when the dogwood drupes are ready. How wonderful they are a diversion from your raspberries.
ReplyDeleteDonna
Congrats on the raspberries being left alone, lol. I'm glad they found something they enjoy eating. More fruit for you!
ReplyDeleteWell I'm back from vacation and the dogwood is almost stripped of its fruit. There are only a few left. I'm hoping the animals don't move to my raspberries now.
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