November 2007 Archives

Farfugium! It just kind of rolls off your tounge. At first, I really was miffed at the taxonomical change from what I knew as Ligularia tussilaginea to Farfugium japonicum. But, it acutally is a good thing, because what is still known as Ligularia are not predictably hardy here in our sultry Northeast Texas summers. Plus, I never did know how to pronounce "tussilaginea"! What is Farfugium? Probably best know as the Leopard Plant, large, lilypad like leaves with bright yellow splotches. Unlike their animal namesakes, I've had several Leopard Plants change their spots, or, more acurately, lose their spots. But, that doesn't bother me that much, because these are tremendous shade-loving perennials. Their large, bold leaves make great contrasts with feathery fern foliage. And, at this time if year, they are topped with an abundance of yellow daisy flowers, which clues you in that these are unlikely members of the Asteraceae or sunflower family. this photo is of a seedling that quickly reverted in my home garden. It is currently in full bloom. My favorite is the big, bold F. japonicum 'Giganteum' which I got from the good folks at Stephen F. Austin Mast Arboretum. It has enjoyed a prominent spot in my shade garden trial located in the Tyler Rose Garden. I'll share a photo a bit later.

The other day I woke up to a string of about 8 mole mounds marching across my backyard. The line came right under the fence, so no doubt, "neighborhood" moles are finding my yard good hunting grounds (Probably because I've been watering this area, and worms and other underground goodies are thriving there - if you water it, they will come - especially if your neighbors don't water and the soil has dried out). So, it was war. First, I used a long steel shank to probe the ground. Runs associated with mounds are almost always going to be much deeper than common foraging runs. You know you've found the run when the probe suddenly it gives way after some resistance. Digging midway between 2 of the mounds, I found the run about 12 inches deep.  I was pretty careful getting the hole ready for the trap, because I didn't want this mole to have the run of the yard. After cutting away some tree rooots, I set the scissors trap, making sure that the jaws would not be protruding into the runway. I was a little dubious because this was pretty sandy soil, and I hadn't had a lot of success trapping deep runs between mounds. About 10 hours later, I had the mole (number 12 for 2007). It was big, as expected for such a large amount of excavation.

I haven't ordered the "Woodie" attachment for the Scissors trap yet.

A couple of weeks ago I trapped mole # 11 for this year. Mole activity has become quite visible recently with extensive mound building in a couple parts of my yard. I have tried trapping several places, several times, and have come up empty handed. I know they are there. For the most part, these are located in unirrigated parts of the yard where the soil is very sandy. In most cases, moles pushed the blocked soil plug on through without lifting the trigger pan. Where I have tried trapping deeper runs with the scissors trap near mounds, the runs are so large that I think the mole is encountering the trap itself and burying the trap with soil.

Most trappers agree that trapping is much more difficult when the soil becomes quite dry, which is another reason I am hoping it will rain. Most of East Texas has dried out after a very rainy spring and early summer. Trees have had a tough time the last 3 years, with 2 years of extreme drought and saturated soils for several months this spring and summer. That may be why I was so successful catching moles earlier this year. It's time for a good, slow, soaking rain.

A friend and Master Gardener told me the other day that he has caught 5 moles in the same tunnel in course of just a couple of weeks this fall. Most literature talks about the solitary nature of moles, so he was quite surprised. Apparently a well-established mole tunnel system can be visited and used by many neighboring moles, especially if the resident moles have been trapped out.

I'm thinking about ordering a little gizmo called a woody that slips over the trigger plate of the scissors trap. It has a small wooden block attached which hangs in the tunnel (instead of a soil block). Supposedly makes the trap much more efficient, especially in sandy, dry soil. I'll let you know how it works for me.