Question
I have been gardening for over 30 years. Never have I seen anything like this. I have flowers of every kind imaginable in my garden. I have hibiscus and boxwood right next to some of these impatients. I have pansys, pentunia and marigolds next to these impatients. I have snapdragons, strawflowers and babys breath. Every night for the last three nights some animal has come into my garden and in some cases right to my front door planters and systematically eaten every impatient I have right down to the ground, leaving only a nub and a root ball. It touches nothing else only the impatients. I have seen a possium once.

Answer
Tammy, it could be one of several animals including gophers, opossums, rabbits, or even deer. Regardless of which animal it is, there are some measures you can take. Some methods that I have tried which have proven somewhat successful are:

1.   Cayenne pepper - Sprinkle liberally on those plants which rabbits relish.  Examples are lettuce, young marigolds, corn sprouts, sunflowers, beet leaves, carrot tops, and beans.  This is extremely effective since rabbits always smell prior to eating.  The primary disadvantage is that this can be time consuming, especially if your garden is large, and the pepper needs to be reapplied after a rain.
2.   Chemical Repellents - All garden centers carry a variety of repellents designed specifically for 4 legged pests.  Examples would be coyote or fox urine, Deer-Off, and Ropel.  Very effective but very expensive.  Also needs to be reapplied after a rain.
3.   Fences - Any fence made from chicken wire will suffice.  It only needs to be 2?high but must be set at least 6?below ground.  Not very aesthetic, but foolproof.
4.   Reemay - This is more commonly known as floating row covers and can be purchased at most garden centers.  Reemay is a lightweight, spun-woven material which lets in water and sunshine while keeping out pests.  This not only protects plants from rabbits, but also protects them from harsh weather conditions and flying insects.  Once the plants develop flowers, the fleece must be removed in order for them to be pollinated.  But at this stage, they are hardy enough to hold their own.  I highly recommend this option.
5.   Live Traps - I recommend purchasing a commercial brand such as Havahart. They have different sizes for different pests.  Simply bait them with a few carrot pieces, lettuce, or apples with peanut butter.  They work very well and are harmless to the animal.  Make sure to transport the animal at least 1 mile from your home, preferably in a well wooded park.
6.   Natural Repellents - The two plants most commonly used to repel rabbits are marigolds and garlic.  Garlic is very effective against most insects and pests.  I use it throughout my gardens. Garlic sprays are also available through your local garden center. Marigolds, on the other hand, have a reputation stemming from folklore in repelling animals.  Unfortunately, this has not worked in my gardens.  The rabbits actually eat the young marigolds, and ignore the mature ones.  I have found marigolds to be more effective in controlling nematodes than in deterring rabbits, but they can prove somewhat effective once they mature.
7.   Natural Predators - Cats are without a doubt the best deterrent when battling rabbits.  I've 2 outdoor cats for seven years now and have not seen a rabbit in the yard since. But of course, owning cats bring other responsibilities and should be for obvious reasons above and beyond controlling rabbits and other pests in your yard.

Although I personally recommend using reemay and the Havahart trap, choose what is best for your personal situation.

Good luck, and please write again if I can ever be of assistance.

Regards,

Mike