My vote is squirrels.

I had this happened at my old house. I had tulips for years and not a
problem, then 4 years ago all the tops were snipped off. I could not figure
it out until the next year when I saw them do it. That is the year they
started going after my sunflowers as well. Oh it was so frustrating and I
could not stop them. So far it has not been a problem here. We do have a
cat who is an excellent mouser (and whatever else it can chase).

D~


"Audrey Copperwheat" wrote in message
...
Not that I could probably do anything about it, but last year, and now
starting again this year, just as my tulips are about to open, something
is cutting off the flower buds so that I find them lying on the ground
with about a 1/8" stem (consistently). The cut isn't always a smooth
one, and the buggers aren't *eating* them (which wouldn't bother me as
much as having them just destroyed for pleasure!). Last year, there was
absolutely no other damage to the tulips or other plants. This year,
I'm seeing a bit of shredding of some tulip petals and even a leaf or
two.

Any idea what does this -- and WHY???

Audrey.