S. Worthen | Weblog

I went outside to water the plants this evening. The morning glory in particular, my only success story this year, was looking somewhat dry. More worryingly, it looked as if it was becoming a regular path for raccoons, since it was increasing lacking leaves near its roots. I thought tonight would be a good opportunity to give it a good watering and then coat it in cayenne pepper, in an attempt to keep the omnipresent raccoons away from the garden.

So I went outside, watered the other beds, watered the lemon balm, and then....

I heard hissing.



I turned around to see a raccoon napping in the middle of my morning glories. No wonder they're looking trampled if it's a regular nap spot for a raccoon! Startled, I sprayed it with water, but it didn't do anything. I turned off the water and went inside to get my camera. It was still there when I got back, but my gardening is done for the evening. It hisses ominously at me, and I don't really want to mess too much with an angry raccoon just now.

Update: It occurs to me that I was awakened at sunrise by a fight on the deck between two raccoons. The one in the photo is still there, several hours later. Perhaps it was injured in the fight?