A Garden Tail: How To Protect
Bulbs From Rabbits
It started with tulips—planted with hope, tracked with care, and gone in a single morning. Bloomin Fool discovered the aftermath as the local resident skipped the nibbles and went for full commitment. He then spotted the culprit standing nearby looking innocent, as if the missing tulip tops were a complete mystery. This is the story of a how to protect bulbs from rabbits, those garden thieves, a painting born of disbelief, and the practical solutions found along the way.
The rabbit didn’t hesitate; there was no test bite, just full commitment. Tulip tops vanished like they’d never existed. That moment became Rabbit Eating Tulips 1.0—a painting born from disbelief, humor, and the need to document the crime. It’s not just a rabbit; it’s a witness and a character now canonized in Bloomin Fool lore.
While Bloomin Fool found revenge by capturing the thief mid-chew on wood panel, he still had to address the buffet line in the garden. He and his fellow gardeners have tested the following tactics:
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Repellents: Bloomin Fool uses Liquid Fence, checking Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Amazon for pricing.
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Bulb Cages: Bloomin Fool now places bulbs in wire cages purchased from sources like Breck’s and White Flower Farm.
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Physical Fencing: While effective if buried, Bloomin Fool has not yet made this construction commitment.
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The Ultimate Solution: The most effective strategy is to plant what rabbits refuse to eat. Some varieties are naturally toxic to mammals; they learn fast—or don’t survive the lesson.
Poisonous bulbs generally left alone include:
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Daffodils (Narcissus)
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Alliums
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Fritillaria
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Hyacinths
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Snowdrops (Galanthus)
Bloomin Fool frequently purchases these varieties of bulbs from White Flower Farm, Breck’s, and Eden Brothers.
The original painting has been sold. For prints and merchandise, visit Fine Art America.