LOL, this is another one of those, oh, how cool can that be situations. It sounds so cute! And it must be so annoying.

Armadillos can be a pain. We had one a year ago. Hubby had chased it out into the neighbor's pasture and thought that was the end of it and went off to work. Later the dogs went nuts and I found that 'dillo was burrowed under the air conditioner next to the house. Not good! If they get under the foundation and under the house, you have a horrible time getting them out. So daughter and I flooded where he was with the garden hose and he backed out and burrowed under the pool!!! Oh my was hubby MAD when he got home (compromising the sand under the above ground pool)
There's even the belief that certain armadillos carry leprosy. I don't know, we just got rid of ours. Won't tell how because some wouldn't like it.
Here's a website about them: http://www.msu.edu/~nixonjos/armadillo/index.html on the left you can click on "problems" and get some ideas.
Blessings, Shay

They are a pain! I'm wondering if that is what tore into one of my purple hearts. At least 1/2 of the plant was broken up into pieces which I'm hoping I can root and replant. Since they visit at night, I don't actually witness what is digging in my flowerbeds.

When we lived in the country, I had one that visited just about every night. He just knew there were nice fat grubs right where I had just planted a mum! I replanted often!

Peggy

Peg,

I've got purple heart in my garden,too. Don't worry, they root easily.

I really don't know of an effective way to get rid of armadillos other than to remove their favorite food, grubs, which is easier said than done!

We've had problems with them in the past, as well. I feel your pain, because I know what its like to wake up and see see gouges in your lawn and flower beds. Like was mentioned earlier, declare war on the grubs. It will help!

Marilyn

Marilyn,

I have some Purple Heart already rooted but has been so blame hot that I just left it in the rooting jar til we start cooling off. I'm putting Purple Heart under a light pink crepe myrtle. I expect it was an armadillo after grubs that trampled the PH; I have offered up several grubs to the robins who come and watch when I'm working that new flowerbed.

We had 2" of rain today....WooHoo! I had some Turk's Cap that was looking mighty peaked and this after a 2" rain last week. I waited to be sure the weatherman was right about rain this weekend...trying to save on our water bill!

Peggy

Peg,

Lucky you! :-) We had just over an inch of rain yesterday, and it was wonderful. A very steady, very slow drizzle, like a soaker hose from heaven. Plus today the high is only going to be 86 degrees!

This morning, for the first time in months, I noticed a tiny pink blossum on my purple heart. What a welcome sight!

Plays in the dirt,

Another thing I noticed yesterday were squirrels digging. He was munching happily on a daylily bulb! grrrrrrrrrr Is it possible that it could be squirrels, rather than armadillos, digging in your garden?

Marilyn

My Purple Heart has been blooming most of the summer.

Don't think it was a squirrel this time. The area this took place is not near my pecan trees. My squirrels spend all their time in the pecan trees or my neighbors roof (think they get into her attic, neighbor behind us traps and kills them). The damaged PH is under a Crepe Myrtle by a Hackberry Tree, squirrels don't visit that side of the yard.

Peggy