Last year I moved — house, garden, husband and about one-tenth of the accumulated possessions of some fifty years of wedded bliss.

Among the more important things we attempted to move were cuttings or divisions of unusual plants, pots of herbs without which I could not cook in the new kitchen, a big leaf magnolia tree which we had carefully transferred to a pot, some plants that were gifts from treasured friends, a cutting from a rose that was a gift from a now deceased brother, and a wisteria vine without which this once southern girl would not feel at home.

We did a little landscaping in front of the “new” house so there would be something green in the spring, but we were not counting on a water main break on Christmas Eve, or on the squirrels. Although we were politely told that our west side squirrel family was not welcome over here, they obviously sent e-mails to their cousins, or maybe they tweeted.

The east side squirrels don’t like the front garden design and have been diligently working to relocate the bulbs and corms we so carefully planted. They also have decided we don’t have enough trees in the front yard so they have been planting oaks, maples and gingkoes. I admire gingko trees, but one in a neighborhood is enough, especially if it is a female.

When the city trucks arrived to repair the water main the squirrels all left. However, they returned a couple of weeks ago.

We have planted 450 spring bulbs: daffodils, tulips, a few grape hyacinths and crocus in the front garden so far. I don’t know why I keep planting crocus bulbs, as I’ve never been able to grow them successfully.

The squirrels on Western Avenue regarded crocus as caviar and nothing — wire mesh, animal repellents, red pepper spray — seem to deter them. When we tried the mesh, the squirrels just waited until the bulbs came up and chewed off the tops. Hopefully, the new neighborhood squirrels don’t have such refined tastes.

For our backyard garden, which already contains a beautiful holly tree and some fiddlehead ferns, I am dreaming of a friendship garden.

As you undoubtedly know, a friendship garden is made up mostly of plants gifted, begged, borrowed or stolen from one’s friends. It’s not a very big backyard so maybe I won’t be reduced to theft and anyway HerbFest is coming up on April 27. The vendors there always have beautiful healthy plants.

I would like to rely on perennials for color through the seasons, but like many gardeners I have always filled in with stalwart annuals such as marigolds and impatiens to perk up the flowerbeds in between the blooming period of most perennials. It takes a little extra planning to develop a sequential perennial garden, and the University of Illinois Extension has a perennial gardening website that can help you plan yours at: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/perennials/.

So we are starting with a holly tree, a fence, a fountain and a pile of mud — garden talk for a rag, a bone and a hank of hair.

Oh, and an entire colony of squirrels, old squirrels too, and they seem absolutely fearless. There is not much traffic in our circle and I swear one of the clan thumbed his nose at me as I slowly backed out of our still unfamiliar driveway.

I expect you are tired of hearing about my (losing) battles with the squirrels, but I have a new house, a new garden and a new lease on life and we will see who wins this time.

All this talk about squirrel problems reminded me that I probably need to revisit the University of Illinois Extension “Living with Wildlife” website to find research-based recommendations on how to reduce their damage. The website can be found at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/.

If you have questions about your gardens, call the University of Illinois Extension office in Charleston at 345-7034.

Jackie Record is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener.

Last year I moved — house, garden, husband and about one-tenth of the accumulated possessions of some fifty years of wedded bliss.

Among the more important things we attempted to move were cuttings or divisions of unusual plants, pots of herbs without which I could not cook in the new kitchen, a big leaf magnolia tree which we had carefully transferred to a pot, some plants that were gifts from treasured friends, a cutting from a rose that was a gift from a now deceased brother, and a wisteria vine without which this once southern girl would not feel at home.

We did a little landscaping in front of the “new” house so there would be something green in the spring, but we were not counting on a water main break on Christmas Eve, or on the squirrels. Although we were politely told that our west side squirrel family was not welcome over here, they obviously sent e-mails to their cousins, or maybe they tweeted.

The east side squirrels don’t like the front garden design and have been diligently working to relocate the bulbs and corms we so carefully planted. They also have decided we don’t have enough trees in the front yard so they have been planting oaks, maples and gingkoes. I admire gingko trees, but one in a neighborhood is enough, especially if it is a female.

When the city trucks arrived to repair the water main the squirrels all left. However, they returned a couple of weeks ago.

We have planted 450 spring bulbs: daffodils, tulips, a few grape hyacinths and crocus in the front garden so far. I don’t know why I keep planting crocus bulbs, as I’ve never been able to grow them successfully.

The squirrels on Western Avenue regarded crocus as caviar and nothing — wire mesh, animal repellents, red pepper spray — seem to deter them. When we tried the mesh, the squirrels just waited until the bulbs came up and chewed off the tops. Hopefully, the new neighborhood squirrels don’t have such refined tastes.

For our backyard garden, which already contains a beautiful holly tree and some fiddlehead ferns, I am dreaming of a friendship garden.

As you undoubtedly know, a friendship garden is made up mostly of plants gifted, begged, borrowed or stolen from one’s friends. It’s not a very big backyard so maybe I won’t be reduced to theft and anyway HerbFest is coming up on April 27. The vendors there always have beautiful healthy plants.

I would like to rely on perennials for color through the seasons, but like many gardeners I have always filled in with stalwart annuals such as marigolds and impatiens to perk up the flowerbeds in between the blooming period of most perennials. It takes a little extra planning to develop a sequential perennial garden, and the University of Illinois Extension has a perennial gardening website that can help you plan yours at: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/perennials/.

So we are starting with a holly tree, a fence, a fountain and a pile of mud — garden talk for a rag, a bone and a hank of hair.

Oh, and an entire colony of squirrels, old squirrels too, and they seem absolutely fearless. There is not much traffic in our circle and I swear one of the clan thumbed his nose at me as I slowly backed out of our still unfamiliar driveway.

I expect you are tired of hearing about my (losing) battles with the squirrels, but I have a new house, a new garden and a new lease on life and we will see who wins this time.

All this talk about squirrel problems reminded me that I probably need to revisit the University of Illinois Extension “Living with Wildlife” website to find research-based recommendations on how to reduce their damage. The website can be found at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/wildlife/.

If you have questions about your gardens, call the University of Illinois Extension office in Charleston at 345-7034.

Jackie Record is a University of Illinois Extension master gardener.