My answer to dealing with them seems to be more philosophical than practical, but so far we're not getting one another's nerves. Choose peace of mind over war. Regardless of the claims of the Squirrel Defamation League, they are just animals. Forget eliminating them. You have better things to do with your time and energy.
Squirrels are like children.
A certain amount of picking up stripped corncobs, tidying the mulch, and damaged or lost bulbs is inevitable. It's not personal. All circumstantial evidence to the contrary, squirrels are not the slightest bit interested in ruining your spring color scheme. Food is a squirrel's best friend. Your garden is just the local smorgasbord.