Pam! You are right – that is what I felt like – an angry mother! A Mama Bear! It had to come to this … but I am still very committed to my organic practices, and will hopefully NEVER have to resort to another foray into BADNESS!

Sweet Tendril, I understand the DENIAL! I was there – and I’d rationalize, and ignore – it’s funny that as soon as the species that I collect were threatened, I couldn’t take it! Watch those piles of soil carefully … and I’m here for moral support should you need to take the big step. XOXO!

OMG, ESP – I think your recent Tahoe-In-The-Living-Room experience trumps mine! I was driven mad by the gopher, but my fury at a drunk driver plowing into my house would have been enough to turn me into a vengeful beast! I have to totally hand it to you for keeping your head!
(BTW, I was so excited about the mention in your blog! I too, must have an opuntia tree – but I think first, I must have an opuntia!)
The sonic thumpers may be useful on Arrakis, but not in Eagle Rock. Well, they did turn into french bulldog annoyance devices – Sadie would dance around them, tossing her head and trying to get it to charge at her. I haven’t seen any extra large worms, but if I do, they go right into my compost bin! After I ride it around the garden, that is!
OOOOOO…. rats …… bbbbbggggglllllrrrrr….. they are permanent residents of my garden, thanks to my neighbor, who seems to really enjoy their company. I try to have a carefree, ‘I’m cool, you’re just a rat’ attitude, but I have to admit to being creeped out. But I try to co-exist. But ICK! I hope your shed remains rat-free. Thank you for your good thoughts and yes – here’s hoping next year’s vegetables are eaten by my family and friends rather than my vermin!

Oh, Susan, I love your soapbox! Feel free to hop on it ANYTIME you’re here! I agree with you, and my situation is similar to yours – we in Los Angeles live VERY close to wild areas, and we encroach and take natural open space away from native wildlife all the time … where else can they go? Even though Eagle Rock is an old neighborhood well inside the city of LA, we have open, uncultivated hills all around us that are unfortunately being developed – and so I think your point is very important – how do we coexist? It IS their planet, too, afterall! Just DON’T TOUCH MY ALOE! sigh… I am still so conflicted about this! Thanks for the thoughtful words!

Oh, Jenny, was it one of those terrible decapitation devices? Have you seen those? It looks like a horrible ancient torture device ( which it is, I guess!), a triangular trap that looks like a crocodile’s mouth – you open the ‘jaws’, put it in the tunnel, then wait for it to bite the critter. BBBBBLLLLYYYYUUUUUKKKKK! I havt that we have to resort to these measures! I’m so glad you solved your problem in whatever way you had to, because your garden is SO AMAZING, and it ould hurt my heart if there were any serious damage. I’m with you – we have to do what we have to do, but the guilt remains. But thankfully, so do our gardens!

Loree! Thanks for the comforting words, because even though I KNOW I had to do it, I still feel bad … the gopher was kind of cute, kind of Disney. But still – he was a fiend. I hope and pray you NEVER have to deal with a gopher! Because they tunnel, I think they are the most destructive – or at least as destructive as deer. After all of the damage, I think I SHOULD have gone to the big guns sooner – but at least I feel like I learned something along the way that I can impart to clients. When it comes to gophers, serious action needs to be taken quickly! XO!

Susan you made me laugh SO HARD – I am the same way … my emotions can be all wrapped up in a story, but if a plant I don’t know is mentioned – hold the phone! I have to see it, find it, and possibly buy it before I can continue with the story! HAHAHA! We are plant maniacs, afterall! P. ‘Red Dark Green’ is really lovely – I’d describe it as a smaller version of P. ‘Maori Chief’, which I love. I am going to be replacing my lost one ASAP! And thanks for the kind words … it really helps that the gardeners I admire are understanding. It makes the difficult decision sit a little better … I can put it in better perspective. My garden is everything. My pride, my joy, my laboratory … how wonderful to be able to reach out to a supportive and understanding community.

THANK YOU ALL!!! XOXOXO!!!

Let me tell you we have been there. I actually played tug of war with a prized aloe–I tugging the top the gopher working downward. I saw the whole darn thing wiggle before I went & grabbed it.

I was always too chicken too kill them even if I managed to spot one.

Nick on the other hand has drowned them, exploded them, beheaded them, always without mercy. We never got to gas but then we didn’t have to. Killer Nick, plus the increasing feral cat population, plus some helpful (if scary looking) six foot gopher snakes got us back in balance.

Would you like some feral cats? Please?

Meanwhile, stop worrying about killing that gopher. Plants are sentient beings too, and they have a right to be protected!

And poof, all your troubles vanished from my brain as I raced to Google away my ignorance.

But now that I’m back, no question you made the right decision. That gopher was a terrorist.