I have a baby chipmunk in my yard that loves Salvias. About a week back I saw it picking every flower that was on the ground and sucking the nectar end. It is getting a little bigger, more destructive, and reaching for the blooms on the stalks. The sight is adorable, but between the bees ripping the nectar end of the Coccineas and the chipmunk reaching for all the blooming Greggii's, I am wondering where that leaves the hummers.

Anyone else had a similar problem before?

Suchie

Haven't had that problem Suchie, but I have chipmunk that loves to plant sunflower seeds in all my containers. I don't mind so much except he dumps soil on the deck as he digs and than I get blamed for it when dirt accumulates and things start growing in the deck cracks!

Pam NJ 6B

Sarah has a very bad chipmonk problem and I know I don't help matters because I find it funny when she relates some of her stories. I don't have a chipmonk problem and have only seen one here in 11 years. They are just so cute but then again they aren't digging up my plants or eating the flowers so I guess I can afford to think they are cute.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

I don't have any either and agree with Penny. At a distance not eating my salvias they are adorable but my friends who have them don't think they are so cute ...they tore up whole vegetable gardens.

Carol
Milford, CT
Zone 6

Thanks for your responses. I have to do something about this, I don't want to see this problem getting any worse. Maybe if I chased it away everytime I saw it there, it may be reluctant to return.

Suchie

I guess I am lucky mine only plants sunflower seeds for me. I can live with a little dirt on the deck for the priceless picture of my Cocker Spaniel running ears flying like a nut at the word (shhh) CHIPPY!!!!

Pam NJ 6B

Good luck trying to control them in my yard they love to eat lonicera sempervirens and they love lilly bulbs along with the squirrels and voles I think they are cute too, untill they they jump on my lap and scream their heads off like Alvin.

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

I would probably have a heart attack if one jumped on my lap or ran up my leg like they do Sarah's but just imagining that happening brings on a chuckle (sorry Sarah)

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Suchie--- I feel your pain dont have chipmonks but do have a rabbit around here that had eaten half my crop of cardinal climbers. I ended up replanting and putting chicken wire around that area took care of the rabbit, but I doubt that would stop a chipmunk. If I had a critter that was destroying my garden I would have to find a way to stop it, no matter how cute the thing may be.

Steve
Martinsville, In
Heat zone 6
Sunset zone 35

Now, I have a bumble bee problem. With all these nectar flowers in my yard they are constantly there and scaring the hummers away too. I have heard that filling a bottle with concentrated sugar solution may move them away from the flowers toward the solution. Has anyone tried this before?

Suchie

Suchie
Last year I put some nectar in a shallow bowl and hung it on a small shepherds hook about 6 or 7 ft. away from my hummer feeder and it did work. they went to the open bowl. I started out with it just a couple of feet away from the feeder and gradually moved it further away. Sometimes they drank too much and couldn't fly away and drowned.

Penny
Niagara Falls, NY
USDA zone 6a/6b
Heat zone 4
Sunset zone 39

Hi,

Thanks for all your input.

I filled a glass jar with a hole on the lid big enough to fit a bumble bee with concentrated sugar solution. It's been out for more than an hour and so far no takers. I am hoping it does the trick. I have also been giving the chipmunk a chase everytime I see it. All said and done, I am going to be fitter at the end of this hummer season.

Suchie

I didn't know that chipmunks scavenged salvia blooms! Although that may explain why my coral nymphs look so bad lately...

Linda V
Connecticut zone 6b

Speakin gof chipmunks, they must be out of their nest. We saw several chasing each other all over the yard yesterday. Than I was standing on the deck and screamed when one ran right over my foot!!! Scared the heck out of me.

Pam NJ 6B

Linda,

The bumble bees could also being shredding your Coral nymph.

Pam,

Looks like except for hummers all the other little ones are out. Since the bees have been around, the male visits are few are far between. The female is around a lot though. I think the two hungry mouths keep her coming to the feeder.

Suchie

Pam who screamed louder you or Alvin? They do have that loud Chip you know.

sarah merion station, Pennsylvania zone 6B

Oh yes I do now that Sarah, but believe me, I won that contest! I was entertainment for my dh though

Pam NJ 6B