Hey GPODers!

Today we’re back in Rotterdam, New York exploring Maxine Brisport’s wildlife-friendly garden. In case you missed the first part (which you should definitely check out here), Maxine contends with a ravenous pack of rabbits that do a number on many of the plants she grows—whether they are considered “rabbit resistant” or not. Despite the constant munching, Maxine has decided to not actively repel them and simply coexists with these cute creatures while enjoying whatever flowers they leave behind.

Here are some more of those leftovers, as well as some great shots of those cute, but hungry, garden guests:

An absolutely beautiful iris the bunnies left for Maxine. The stunning periwinkle blue color leads me to believe this is the variety ‘Victoria Falls’ (Iris ‘Victoria Falls’, Zones 4–9).

The rabbits might have left these alone, but what a scrumptious color combination! Various shades of purple in the flowers and foliage of ‘Midnight Masquerade’ penstemon (Penstemon ‘Midnight Masquerade’, Zones 3–8) pair perfectly with the cheerful yellow cups of Missouri evening primrose (Oenothera macrocarpa, Zones 3–8) and the bright lime-yellow to orange foliage of Kodiak® Fresh diervilla (Diervilla x splendens ‘SMNDSS’, Zones 3–8) behind.

Another fabulous shot of one of Maxine’s rabbit residents. Quick and shy little prey animals, it really is impressive how well she is able to photograph these garden guests. But maybe the rabbits are now so comfortable in Maxine’s garden that they’re willing to stop and pose as they enjoy their lunch?

In yesterday’s post, I mentioned that growing vining plants is a great strategy for growing flowers up and away from hungry herbivores on the ground. Another strategy is growing plants with their own defenses. A vibrant pink rose is not only a classic beauty, but its prickly thorns make it pest resistant.

Another colorful combination from Maxine of yellow daylilies, red bee balm, bright pink hollyhock, and classic white daisies.

Another fluffy garden guest munching in the shade, peaking out from behind some ferns.

Finally, a serene little spot to enjoy the garden and all its guests! I particularly love the little fountain that mimics a stack of overflowing pots and buckets. Adding a water feature to your garden always sounds like an expensive task that requires ample garden space, but with a little creativity and searching, anyone can add the soothing sounds of cascading water into their landscape.

Thanks for sharing your gorgeous garden with us again, Maxine! The GPOD community, and all those rabbits, really appreciate your generosity 😉

Have a garden you’d like to share?

Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!

To submit, send 5-10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.

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