I have a new yew hedge on the north side of my patio, planted about five weeks ago. I had expected a tedious routine of daily watering, but this summer’s downright biblical rains have taken over nicely. I see new growth on all the baby bushes, so I think I can assume they’re happy.

The yew hedge is my latest effort to thwart the local cottontail rabbits, an abundantly fecund crew that have eaten to the dirt every plant I have put in that area since the patio was built five years ago. My next objective is to identify a rabbit-proof flowering perennial to replace the tulips and hyacinths that get beheaded every spring. More daffs, probably; they usually go untouched.