尽管是在中国南方城市长大，曾对花草院子的培育和管理一无所知，但来美国以后，我特别在乎我家院子的整洁。多年来，不管住的房子是大是小，我都要把前后的草坪和花园修剪的整整齐齐，干干净净。一直坚信，房子里面干不干净不是最要紧，但房子外面的相貌关系到主人的形象，特别是我们是Chinese， 住在美国本地人的地盘上，一定要显示我们Chinese的道德修养和公共意识。We care, as you do! 再者，我也很喜欢在屋子外收拾院子。那种阳光晒在身上的软软的温暖感觉加上青草和植物的清新味道总让我痴迷不已。

然而，随着时间的推移，逐渐发现有些动植物或多或少会给我们带来意想不到的surprise. 很多不再是可爱可怜 but troublemakers, 仅能远观而不可近止。

1) Poison Ivy:

因为有一个玫瑰园，加上屋子四周的花圃， 大约3 acres 的草坪加外周的树林，所以除草的任务任重而道远。这两年每年夏天我都非常suffering。特别是今年，已经两次contacted poison ivy. 奇痒无比， 还不能抓，否则spread. 第一次仨个礼拜也没有好，后来去看了医生服了五天的predisone。隔了一个礼拜再次感染，又服了五天predisone, 停药两天后再次flare. 不得不重访医生，被医嘱禁止任何gardening. 从此认识 poison ivy和它的厉害。

2) Deers:

如果说以前对deers还有一种好奇和本能的关爱，那么现在我对他们只有敬而远之。其一，他们会啃掉我种的基本上所有的花苗。玫瑰是它们的最爱, 如果我们没有把玫瑰用篱笆围起来，基本上叶子都被吃掉而没有开花的机会。其他被吃掉的：5 hydrangeas, lilies, iris, black-eye susan, cornflowers, butterfly bushes, etc. 其二, deer ticks. Deers carry ticks that could transmit lyme disease. 很多人看见deers喜欢接近它们，我的建议：stay away!

3) Wasps and yellow jackets:

They sting if you provoke them. No fun! Don’t know how to get rid of them though.

4) Snakes:

Basically I was told garden snakes are good since they eat rats. However, snakes are my phobia. I cannot see a snake without screaming and getting frightened. Because of that, right before we moved in, my husband specifically hired a pest control company to inspect the whole house for snakes. 

To avoid them in house: make sure put away all the leftovers. Snakes come in because there is food, aka rats or mice, available in the house. If you could keep your house free of rats/mice, you will be free of snakes as well. Another reason for me to keep my yard clean and free of weeds. 

5) Black Bears/racoons:

There was a medium-sized black bear once observed by us walking along the tree line in our backyard. And our garbage can has been frequently assaulted by bears/racoons during night. A lock has been since put on. Bears are extremely sensitive to seafood. The neighbor told us that one day at dusk they saw a mama bear with two cubs searching for food at their trash can. Be aware! Never apporach them. Racoons are even more dangerous than bears!

We leave the driveway light on 24-7. When on morning shift, I usually get out of my house before 6am. Between out of the house and in my car, I always look toward the place where garbage can sits and check on bears/racoons. Sometimes I got spooked. Not romantic at all.

6)Turkeys/Rabbits/Frogs/Red fox/groundhog

They are in general harmless and our good neighbors, 尽管是井水不犯河水，老死不相往来。