Category Archives: urban deer

sharing the garden

gardens with wildlife, projects, urban deer

Deer Repellent

07/21/2012 svseekins 14 Comments

deer family in our yard 10/11 — photo by SVSeekins

I still delight seeing deer in our yard. It feels like we’re a little more in tune with nature than we really are.

deer pruned the bottom 1/2 of shrub — photo by SVSeekins

For the most part, we get along quite well.

Deer offer free pruning services, and I’m OK with the goofy shapes some of the evergreens end up with.

It’s also lovely when they pitch in to mow the lawn every once in a while.

just outside the kitchen window.... — photo by SVSeekins

They’re even helpful with supplying fertilizer. Every little bit counts. After all, it’s not cheap to ship in a load of manure each spring.

day lily buds - now you see them... — photo by SVSeekins

It’s nice to know that someone else enjoys the garden as much as I do. I’m sure we’re both equally excited to see the promise of some pretty summer flowers.

... and now you don't — photo by SVSeekins

Since the deer seem to spend more time in the garden than I do, it shouldn’t surprise me that they get to enjoy the flowers before I do. We just have different definitions of ‘enjoyment.’

Even so, I feel a bit ripped off that they eat the buds just moments before the flower opens.

Just 2 doors down the street, the deer also ‘enjoy’ C & A’s garden. But the other day, I noticed their delicious patch of Crocosmia has blooms that haven’t been eaten! WOW !!

Crocosmia at C & A's — photo by SVSeekins

That’s why, after years of thinking I’d never do it, I decided to experiment with deer repellent.

C & A tell me they used a spray called Plantskydd.

Asking around, a few other gardening friends recommended Bobbex.

home made deer repellent — photo by SVSeekins

I decided to go with the homemade recipe HM suggested. Easy-peasy:

1 litre warm water
1 egg yolk
1 tbsp baking powder

Thinking that I’d leave the far end of the garden as a buffet for the deer, and the closer part of the garden for my visual enjoyment, I sprayed foliage nearest the entrances of the house that I use the most.

What I’ve learned so far:

Deer might not like the smell of the repellent – but neither do I !!
Even in dead calm, some spray drifted onto me. I showered & threw my shoes & clothes into the laundry.
Dollar Store spray bottles aren’t worth diddly – mine broke before I finished.
The next day, it still smelled funny around our front door. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was unpleasant. (C said he thought someone had peed on the stairs.)

The good news is that the daylilies are blooming 🙂

I probably won’t spray around high traffic areas again.

C’s suggestion is to apply only where the deer enter the garden. I’m wondering if that’ll be enough to deter them from coming in.

-30-

P.S. The deer saga continues:

Subscribe to Blog via Email

boulevard garden, months 04-06: spring, months 07-09: summer, natives, urban deer

California Poppy

06/28/2012 svseekins 5 Comments

I like the saturated orange of the California Poppy bloom. It’s bright and happy.

Even more, I like that the plant survives well on roadsides & rocky areas. A plant that doesn’t need nurturing – bonus!

California Poppy at Snake Rock, garden Victoria BC — photo by SVSeekins

This little patch of poppies lives just down the street at Snake Rock. It blooms in mid-spring & continues well into the dry summer.

Of course, the thought occurred to me, “We NEED that in our garden!” Can’t you imagine how lovely a wave of bright orange would be in the shrub border?

California poppy - seed pod, garden Victoria BC — photo by SVSeekins

Even C is encouraging. He really likes the bright orange blooms, too. So, for the past 5 years, I’ve gathered seed from the roadside, then spread it through our gardens.

There’s been the occasional reward, but mostly I’ve had little success.

The California Poppy has a long tap-root, so where ever it pops up, that’s where it has to stay. It does not like being moved. And it doesn’t seem to like being watered either. Nor fed. Nor coddled in any way.

The shrub border had a fair amount of fertilizer, mulch & water over the past few years, as the plants were all so new & getting established. Maybe that’s been too much attention for the poppy.

The most successful patch is on our rocky hillside. It’s a well-drained site and bakes in the sun. The California Poppy will grow in the soil, but seems even happier in the gravel of the pathway! Go figure.

California Poppy in gravel path, garden Victoria BC — photo by SVSeekins

So far, I’m resisting the urge to weed it out of the path. I’ve decided that it’s ‘whimsical’ growing there.

I’m happy about growing a local wildflower. I’m also delighted that the deer, who spend their afternoons on our little mountain, leave the California Poppy alone.

My plan is to keep spreading seed in the rest of the garden & be happy with whatever we get. That’s the true definition of ‘low maintenance,’ isn’t it?

-30-

Subscribe to Blog via Email

garden visits, months 04-06: spring, perrennials, urban deer

Ted Baker’s Iris

05/25/2012 svseekins 9 Comments

It was so overwhelming, I didn’t know where to start. It was my equivalent of a candy store. Where to look first?

Ted Baker's iris bed 01 — Ted Baker’s iris bed

Our garden club was visiting Ted Baker’s garden on Saltspring Island. He likes iris. A lot.

Inside the Iris Societies BC & Canada, he’s a celebrity. He was instrumental in bringing the 2011 American Iris Society national convention to Vancouver Island. What a treat to explore his garden!

Who knew there were so many variations of iris? It was a kaleidoscope of exotic blooms & colours. With names for each plant, it was an enthusiast’s dream.

It’s too much to try to show you everything.

“Focus – Focus!” I thought to myself, entering Ted’s main iris field. I decided to concentrate on a single theme.

Yellow. I like Yellow, it’s a happy colour. So, get ready, here’s only a ‘Baker’s dozen’ of Ted’s 250+ bearded iris. See if you think the name matches the flower.

iris - golden ecstasy — iris – golden ecstasy
photo by SVSeekins

iris - dazzling gold — iris – dazzling gold
photo by SVSeekins

iris - leading light — iris – leading light
photo by SVSeekins

iris - pirates quest — iris – pirates quest
photo by SVSeekins

iris - catalyst — iris – catalyst
photo by SVSeekins

iris - aura light — iris – aura light
photo by SVSeekins

iris - tour de France — iris – tour de France
photo by SVSeekins

iris - Mexican holiday — iris – Mexican holiday
photo by SVSeekins

iris - pirate ahoy — iris – pirate ahoy
photo by SVSeekins

iris - crackling Caldera — iris – crackling Caldera
photo by SVSeekins

iris - dream team — iris – dream team
photo by SVSeekins

iris - solar fire — iris – solar fire
photo by SVSeekins

iris - sunny and warm — iris – sunny and warm
photo by SVSeekins

The morning visit to Ted’s garden was fun. It certainly proved there was more to iris than those delightful purples that still grow (un-tended) in Mom”s & Grandma’s gardens. Which do you grow in your garden?

-30-