The sun was slanting in from the west onto the snowball bush. I just love the way it illuminated the flowers. Two days later we discovered the deer had eaten into the bush. There are still flowers on it, they are just arranged helter skelter now, the bush a towering pear shape figure in our landscape.
There is no wonder to the the myriad of ways these hoofed creatures outwit us.
Do you have any critters that play havoc with your plants?
My deer seem to like my newly forming hollyhocks, as well as other things. I have to use Liquid Fence, which is a more natural repellent. Stinks on application, then dissipates to us, but not to the critters. I love hydrangea.
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The deer are beautiful, but can be frustrating, can’t they? Your poor hollyhocks. I hope you could save some of them. We use Liquid Fence as well, Teresa, and it is pretty vile smelling. The trouble is there is always something that is missed and the deer seem to find it.
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We have deer too…one friend has a beautiful vegetable garden regularly decimated by them, despite the high fence…
If it’s a bad year we have slugs. Eurgh. But things are quite dry this year so its not so hospitable for them.
lovely flower. The lime green is so delicate!
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They are pretty resourceful in getting at food, aren’t they, Kate?
Yuk! Slugs are slimy and can do as much damage as the deer. We have had a great deal of rain lately, so, I hope the hostas will be fine. Always something to remind me I’m not in charge.
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Now that’s just not fair! I know what a delight the snowball bushes are, and also how short-lived is their flowering. I had a couple of these at a previous house and loved welcoming them in each spring time. It’s too bad that the deer couldn’t have held off. We have possoms here that can eat a whole year’s growth of new leaves in one night, but they are such a threat to our native trees that they are now very well controlled.
Your picture brings back some happy memories; thank you.
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So glad this brought back happy memories, Juliet. It is truly a beautiful bush. I didn’t realize possums could be so destructive. Not the most elegant of the animal kingdom, they can also be nasty if cornered. You are most welcome.
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Love the snowball bush. I always liked the name. As a little girl I always thought “Snowballs without cold noses, what fun.” They don’t throw well, however.
Pesky deer!!! If the rain doesn’t beat them down the deer are eating your flowers. It is a tough time for flowers. “You can learn a lot of things from the flowers, especially in the month of June.” from Disney’s Alice
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Oh, no, they don’t throw well at all. Hundreds of little petals come flying off before they get very far.
Spring is tough of flowers – especially this spring. I love your Disney’s Alice quote, Janet. Today was a beautiful day! Hope it was the same down by you.
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Pretty snowball bush. Also loved the fuchsia from yesterday. This was the first year I’ve planted them and they are so pretty only mine are more black on the bottom side.
We haven’t seen deer up around the house for a few years though they do like our hay field and pond. We really don’t have much of a problem with animals eating things. The cats lay in them sometimes and smash them but they usually recover. Our son in Kansas City and his neighbor have an on-going battle with RABBITS. They have live traps set and have tried all different kinds of repellants and planted things rabbits supposedly don’t like and still they nibble them to the ground. The neighbor who has a garden has even been known open his kitchen window and shoot them with a pellet gun while having his morning coffee!
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Aren’t fuchsia lovely? I could never keep them growing in our first house, but, they do well here and the hummingbirds love them.
I’m glad the deer aren’t a problem around you. We used to have cats and they do tend to smoosh plants. Rabbits are really a problem for lots of folks up here, too, Joyce. They can get under and around and over most deterrants, can’t they? Even the old stand-by of marigolds doesn’t seem to help with vegetable gardens.
Thank you for sharing.
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Maybe you should pay close attention to what they’re eating, it may make a great salad!
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Ha! Let’s see, a tossed salad of hosta leaves with sprinkling of lilacs and roses, thorns and all, a few peony buds (which I know are tasty from a childhood taste), hydrangea, of course, who doesn’t love hydrangea . . . dang. Now I’m getting hungry, Janet. You made me giggle.
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