My magnolia tree is not covered with the beautiful open white blossoms that I love. There are fewer buds, mainly at the top of the tree, and few have opened this year.  I was beginning to think it might be diseased since it is so much less productive than last year. Standing outside this morning with a cup of coffee in hand while watching the squirrels race around the back garden, I realized the problem. The magnolia is breakfast for the neighborhood squirrels. I watched as a squirrel scampered to the top, nibbled at the base of a bud, caught it as it toppled off the branch, then carried it away to eat.

I haven’t lived in Florida for long, so didn’t realize squirrels ate magnolia buds, although I have seen squirrels eating magnolia fruit that had fallen from the tree. (Magnolias – A Feast for Squirrels). I wonder why they didn’t eat the buds on this tree last year or the year before, or didn’t eat enough for me to realize a few buds were missing. With the mild winter I wouldn’t think they would be short on food but maybe there are more squirrels this year because of the mild winter.