We lived in NJ from 2001 to 2005 and had an unbelievable number of squirrels. They stole animal feed. They spoiled vegetable gardens. I even observed them climbing trees with tomatoes in their mouths. Eventually I started getting them with CB caps in my 22. Two would make a fine dish for the family. At last, I came to be at peace about these little villans. Though we could never quite catch up with them, and thus the damage never stopped. We figured them into our harvest. Here in Oklahoma we seem to have fewer squirrels (and more owls and coyotes : ) I've gone from grabbing my rifle on reflex, to leaving them alone. We even have one black squirrel which the family has dubbed "Dad's pet." She's obese from stealing feed. She even ruined my leather work gloves. But she's only one squirrel and I enjoy watching her. Where we lived in NJ was incredible. They literally did seem like an invasion of "tree rats." George Tahlequah, OK

RAT ZAPPER CONTINUES TO WORK Like many on this thread I too felt guilty about eliminating chipmunks ... but have become increasingly frustrated and desperate when the population exploded and over ran our property and garden areas. Destructive, brazen and invasive is ALL an understatement when I see what these cute little critters have become. Granted the "pool of death" (the bucket) does work, but I found, at least for me, a cleaner, more convenient way to eliminate the munks ... the RatZapper ... no bucket to maintain/seed to replenish. I bought my first "zapper" back in May and eliminated 21 munks in approximately 10 days. Since then I bought 2 more and now there are almost 50 critters that no longer make their home in the area around my foundation, sidewalks and retaining walls. I place a little pile of sunflower seed at the back of the chamber and flip the switch. And location seems to be important. Under shrubs and near visible, active holes seems to be most effective. While I feel I need to eliminate them I want to do it as humanely as possible, and since it is illegal to relocate them in the state of CT, the Hav-A-Heart trap presents the dilemma of having to "off them" yourself and watch them die. An animal control professional I spoke to (off the record) indicated that "electrocution" is the fastest, most humane and cleanest way to do what has to be done. Interestingly, an Ohio State University critter/pest management site I visited indicated that 10 chipmunks or more per acre is considered an infestation population. I have caught almost five times that number in two areas, so I assume I am dealing with nature being way out of balance, at least as far as the chipmunk population. If you're getting more and more desperate, try the Zapper, it has worked for me.

haaahaha...i now don't feel so bad knowing that a family of squirrels has taken up residence in my garage. good thing my garage is not attached to the house. but they have torn a huge hole in the back of my garage, and it seems that they are not even scared of me anymore. when i go in the garage, the mother squirrel does not even move from her spot up in the rafters. i swear today that one of them was waiting for me on my back porch....wtf?? thankfully my husband has just bought a giant assault rifle type pellet gun and is excited to use it. the squirrels have done so much damage to our garage, i almost feel like we might as well tear it down and build a new one. they have ripped down ALL the insulation, and the holes are ridiculous. so...good luck to all you squirrel hunters out there...and just remember...they might be cute..BUT THEY ARE STILL RATS!!!!

"Thomasville Old Gold" is at the bottom of my list of potted Teas alphabetically, but is near the top when it comes to vigor and growth so far. This came as a band from Long Ago Roses. Now onto the Chinas. I got a bunch this year. Some went in the ground, and they're doing well so far. In the bed with the aforementioned 'Napoleon' I planted 'Louis Philippe', 'Rival de Paestum', "Dutch Fork China", 'Ducher', and 'Cramoisi Superieur'. I already had "Grandmother's Hat" and 'Perle d'Or' in there, so with this year's Chinas, that area is "done with roses". In my little front yard, Chinas which went in this year are 'Arethusa', Comtesse du Cayla', and if you think of it as one, "Huilito". But this is about the ones destined to remain container plants. "Boone Hall China" is a "mystery" rose without a page on HelpMeFind, probably a seedling or close relative of the 'Louis Philippe' and 'Cramoisi Superieur' clan. It's a cute little thing so far, with cherry-scented blooms that hang down. Unfortunately, it's the only one of my potted Chinas and Teas which seems to be showing some mildew, but only a touch, and only recently. This came as a band from Angel Gardens. "Ferndale Red China" is another "mystery" rose I'm giving a shot here. It recently sent a new thick shoot, which grew rapidly and is terminating in a small candelabra. On HelpMeFind, bloom pics seemed so variable that I wondered if they were all the same rose. As I watch this one flowering on and off, I see how they really vary with the weather. This one came as a 1-gal from Rose Petals Nursery. I'm really looking forward to a barrel filled with 'Miss Lowe's Variety', and its rapid growth so far with me makes me think that it will accomplish this by the end of next year. This one came as a band from Rogue Valley Roses. I almost didn't want to admit that I planned to try 'Mutabilis' in a barrel here, being as it's so often touted as becoming a monster. Well, I'm going to see how it deals with one hard pruning in Spring, then letting it grow as it wishes the rest of the season. I have to do it anyway for Winter damage for my few other Chinas and Teas planted in the ground previously, and they rebound. Right now, this rose is a bit lopsided. When repotting it, I accidentally snapped one of its smaller stems, and it doesn't seem to want to grow back. But the other side took off. So here in my neck of the woods, the growing season is just what the Chinas and Teas seem to like for encouraging growth. The ones still in pots are in my "magic mix" -- three parts peat moss, one part Bovung dehydrated manure, one part vermiculite, and one part perlite, with 1/2 cup Garden Tone per gallon of mix, and a mulch of used coffee grounds. They get almost all-day sun, and frequent water. Those in the ground started off the same way. Give them heat, food, and water, and the Chinas and Teas will respond with lots of growth. And this is what I need here, since my Winters will take some of that away -- three steps forward, two steps back, every year. Those I'm keeping potted will go into either my garage or my unheated enclosed back porch for Winter, but I still expect to have to remove damage in Spring. They may never get as big and glorious as they do in California, but I'm thinking they'll work somewhat like Buddleia here -- they need one hard pruning in Spring to remove damage, but then let them go wild for the rest of the season. That they bloom for me all through the heat of Summer -- as long as they get food and water -- makes them worth it. :-) ~Christopher