Give the Gardener a Point and Please Take The Deer

Today, I planted 115 more bulbs, including those darned free gifts. Give me a point. I don't even know what color they are. I'm hoping, since they are tulips, that the deer will eat them and leave some of my other things alone. And the rest of the bulbs? Whether they were ordered for forcing or not, they are going to be forced. Probably. If they make it in from the garage.

Last weekend, I walked to the back corner of the yard and discovered a deer had decided to scratch his antlers on my prized new cryptomeria. There was one trunk left with a topknot of foliage. All the other 3 trunks were broken off at 2 feet or lower. All the foliage was scattered around what was left of my beautiful tree. It had been over 4 feet tall, full and lush. Now it looks like a stick with a green feather wig.

Garden Man, sensing a meltdown of major proportions, decided he'd try to help. He took that roll of fancy, expensive deer netting and "fenced" off most of the hydrangeas and the other smaller, even more prized, cryptomeria. Then, he proceeded to weave yellow Caution tape in and out in the top squares. When I got home later that day, I thought I'd happened on an immense crime scene. According to the tape, most of the yard was off limits. Unfortunately, I don't think deer can read, and they may even be colorblind. I just hope the netting is enough to keep them away.

Today, I noticed they had eaten the new Itea down to sticks. Sheesh. For the first 4 years we lived here, we never had any damage. Last year there was just a bit. This year is ridiculous. I'm considering renting out my spare bedroom as a deer blind. Hunting, anyone? I want the deer to leave my plant babies alone. But they can have those unidentified tulips I got as a free gift.

Comments

[Gail]

Kim, How aggravating and a prized tree, too. Even if it's a nothing hosta that they gobble up; it still makes me see red! We came home the other evening to see a small herd in our neighbor's yard. Yikes....are we next on the progressive dinner party schedule. I hope the netting works! gail

[Kelly (the sorry gardener)]

Deer eating my plants is one thing. I get hunger. But rubbing against them is entirely different. And if Garden Man had used red and green tape, you'd be decorated for Christmas already.

[MaineGuide.com]

Very interesting post!