You mean Madam Squirrel may attack my columbines? Actually, my more-or-less important columbines are in the perennial garden miles from Madam Squirrel's nest. The "granny bonnet" European columbines in my backyard - well, she'd be welcome to 'em.

The most successful location (in terms of their contribution to the landscaping) I've had for columbines was on the northside of a house. Keep in mind that up here near 49° north latitude, there's a fair amount of morning and afternoon sunshine on the northside of a building.

The ones I have now are in the full sun but I'm not sure if that's preferable. They certainly do take a beating from mildew and aphids. Spraying with both an insecticide and fungicide may be called for. Columbine flowers have such a short duration and are such tender things, you'd need to really be careful to spray during late afternoon to avoid sun damage. I don't know what the squirrels would think of this . . . the spray may or may not act as a repelent.

digitS'

I've never been able to get Columbines to grow, inside or out, much as I love them. But now if the squirrels are going to go after them, I'm having second thoughts. It's bad enough they dig up my potatoes and carrots and make off with my peaches, not to mention the couple hundred dollars of named irises they've dug up and eaten.