Deer devastation revisited

Yesterday, after a restless sleep due to nightmares about rabid deer and maniacal tomato plants, I had the opportunity to revisit my deer-damaged garden with a more objective, rather than emotional, lens.

Yes, the deer did inflict some trauma, but decimate, not really. It could have been a lot worse. We have a three and a half foot fence around our vegetable garden beds—mainly to help keep out critters like our dog, for one, and then groundhogs, rabbits, or other pesky varmints. It looks like the deer did not enter the veggie garden, but rather leaned over the fence to reach the delicacies on the borders. The tomatoes and a few eggplants. While four of the tomatoes were chewed down to stalks, the deer were generous enough to leave some foliage on most of them, so I think they will come back. Good thing I have 11 plants left standing, as my harvest from half of them might be weakened. We’ll see.

The dozen or so phlox starter plants that they ate were all divided from a neighbor’s garden. Since they were free and I’m sure I can go steal some more if I want, I’m not completely heartbroken over those. I’m more upset about the mastication of my two baby blueberry bushes. I hope they come back.

My mum, which had about 20 flower buds on it already, now only has one flower bud. But this is also a plant that the above-mentioned dog has, against my cursing and punishment, claimed as his pissing post. Plants don’t appreciate dog urine, and the foliage on its bottom half has turned the same shade of yellow as its most frequent beverage. I feel like there is a doggie shock collar in my future.

But as depressed as I was about these garden setbacks upon initial discovery, I am a resilient and optimistic person. Hubby and I have resolved to prevent the past from repeating. After work yesterday, Hubby spent the evening reinforcing the deer perimeter fence, as well as lacing the nearly-see through black mesh with bright pink warning ribbons. Not that deer can see in color, but the ribbon does at least make the fencing noticeable so they don’t accidentally run into it.

Similarly, I set out to buy ingredients for a deer repellant recipe that a friend of mine forwarded. I tried commercial deer repellant last year, mainly on our front garden, which isn’t fenced in and is planted with hostas and impatiens, otherwise known as deer candy. BUT, that potent and disgusting concoction of manure, garlic, cloves, rotten eggs, and other nasties, repulsed me even more. I refused to smell that noxious aroma every time I entered and exited my house. I can’t enjoy my garden if my garden spurs my vomit reflexes.

The recipe we will be trying was designed by a Connecticut horticulturalist who is affiliated with the NY Botanical Gardens. Pretty good resume. She claims that while it reeks while the formula is in liquid form, as soon as it dries on the plants (or perimeter fences), the smell is undetectable to the human olfactory system. Too good to be true? We’ll see, but it’s cheap to make, so worth a shot!

I had to stop by a local nursery to see if they carried one of the ingredients, so while I was there, I couldn’t help myself—I bought four plants. Lavender, chocolate mint, creeping thyme, and lemon balm—all perennial herbs. (They didn’t have the necessary ingredient). I know some women that can’t pass a shoe store without making a purchase; that’s me at a garden center. But after the losses I suffered yesterday, buying brand new healthy plants made me happy. Now, if only the temperatures would climb out of the 50s and into pre-summer digits. Seriously, I’m still wearing sweaters. While my peas, broccoli and cabbage are loving this super cool spring, all of my other plants are peaking out of hibernation at a snail’s pace. I won’t get greedy and hope for an 80-degree day, but consistent 70s would be nice from here on out!