Fruit-eating birds scorn my Mt. Ash and Vinis Vitifera!

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BlazingFungi Sumas, WA(Zone 6b) Oct 22, 2016

I know, most people would love to have my problem, right? However, I planted my garden with wildlife in mind and I'm wondering what I did wrong here. I planted the dark form of vinis vitifera, which produces huge clusters of fat juicy grapes, and it goes ignored. Similarly, I have a Hawthorn tree that throws such huge clusters of fruit that the branches hang...and most years, the birds ignore it; particularly the fallen fruit. Raccoons, foxes and other small foraging omnivores abound in my semi-rural location, and they could give a rip about all the free food. My garden is strictly organic. I'm beginning to feel a little shunned. What's up with this?

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Oct 25, 2016

Maybe - just maybe - you should implement a planting scheme which includes trees, shrubs, and other flora from Washington state and environs.

All those wildlife you mention foraged on species that were there before you were, and will continue to use those species whether you are there or not. The Pacific Northwest region of the United States is so rich with indigenous flora, it is amazing that one would need to introduce anything else.

Alternatively, if you can't stomach planting native species, then plant something you wish to consume yourself (or enjoy looking at for any length of time). That usually ensures that something else will eat it first.

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BlazingFungi Sumas, WA(Zone 6b) Nov 03, 2016

Or, I could post a question, and, in the interim, find myself suddenly host to the cast reunion from Alfred Hitchcocks' The Birds; who practically stripped the Mt. Ash to the bark. The grape I'll just consider the gardening equivalent of a plastic fruit centerpiece. Thanks for answering!

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