The groundhogs ate my newly planted ice plants back in May. That ended my trying to grow ice plants in the yard. After that, the groundhogs have been on respectful culinary behavior all Summer and Fall. We've been battling browsing deer instead. And the groundhog has left our planted plants alone. Well, until a couple of days ago anyhow.

The past two weeks have been a little crazy. First, there was the disappearing cardboard boxes and their edging contents strewn around the groundhog bolt hole next to the back patio: https://pbase.com/britestar/image/176665783 A couple of days after the boxes disappeared, the bolt hole was sealed up. Okay. Hibernation time??? I guessed wrong on that explanation. A few days later, it got reopened.

Then, my 6 Allium plants next in the bed (where the edging was supposed to go) vanished. Looking closely 4 days ago, I found the alliums suddenly browsed down to the dirt. Groundhogs??? However, from most gardening sites, Alliums are supposed to be on the "Groundhogs won't eat" list. "Groundhogs usually skip alliums because the strong smell, taste, and possible digestive effects make them unappealing." Nevertheless, those Alliums disappeared on the next day after a groundhog pup reopened the closed bolt hole. I saw him sampling one allium leaf the day before the total annihilation of the alliums. But I didn't think tasting one leaf meant another major. I was wrong. Okay. Guess the groundhogs now won't let me grow alliums in the backyard.

New plan: I'll replace the Alliums with a couple of extra new Catmint plants next year..."While catmint is not toxic to groundhogs, its aromatic compounds and texture may be unpalatable. Similar plants in the mint family, and others with strong odors or bitter compounds, are avoided." Seems safe. Our catmint has been untouched ever since it was planted in June 2025. Well, until yesterday. Yesterday, I looked at what had been a bushy, oversized catmint plant just 2 days ago & discovered half the plant had been eaten.

Today, the groundhog came back for another dining episode. I got to see firsthand that not only will groundhogs eat catmint, but this one really seemed to enjoy it. Geesh!!! While taking a series of photos of the unexpected, I kept yelling at her to stop it. Although the groundhog did briefly look at me (about a dozen feet away), she still just kept merrily dining on my catmint.

Aren't groundhogs supposed to be afraid of people? This one paid about as much attention to me yelling at it as Tara does when she's naughty. In other words, it knew I was powerless to do anything to get it to listen to me. I was merely dining entertainment until the groundhog pup had its fill (for today) of my catmint and was ready to take a relaxing after dinner break of sitting on top of the retaining wall above the catmint. It's not supposed to like catmint. I need this groundhog to read a few gardening books to understand what is supposed to NOT be on her menu.

Meanwhile, one piece of the edging (that was in the missing boxes that undoubtedly went down the groundhog hole) is still among the missing. The last I saw that piece of edging; it was jammed half in and half out of the groundhog hole before the hole got closed - and then reopened.

Is any of this normal??? At our house, it must be. But give me a break...