Echinops

Yes, it's unbelievable, but the rabbits have a go at this thorny Echinops!

Was just about to ask why the chicken wire Beattie, then I read your post. Not bother much by rabbits here, but will keep this in mind if ever they descend upon me :)

We've fenced quite a bit of the garden so the rabbits can't USUALLY get in Scottish. I did get a couple of babies inside the fence but managed to get rid of them one way or another. The medium sized tubes of chicken wire work to protect individual plants - best used for trees or shrubs to protect them til too big to be eaten to death.

Our bunnies have had a go at plants that I really didn't think would attract them, like Euphorbia and this one. And my Heuchera leaves are nibbled where they poke out of the wire!

This must be so dis-heartening for you Beattie, rabbits are so cuddly looking but what damage they cause:-(

I do sometimes wish I'd fenced more of the garden BA. My poor plants look a bit dismal in chicken wire tubes and the rabbits will have a go at so many of the things I plant there. :-( I tried fencing a whole flowerbed - it worked but it's a bit difficult to lean in and weed it. The plants grew out through the wire so it wasn't so obvious.

Is there no rabbit deterrent Beattie? I wonder how they manage in National Trust or other gardens open to the public ?

Lion poo is supposed to work, and keeping a fit and keen terrier.... Perhaps the NT gardens rely on fencing a large area and cattle grids.