I began blogging...

... because I wanted to share with other gardeners, the trials and tribulations of gardening, and dealing with the "deerbeloved". I do love the deer and try to live peacefully with them. It is much easier now that I have finally found a solution to the problem, of the deer eating everything that I plant. I don't even consider vegetable gardens, because in addition to the Deer we reside with Rabbits, Ground Hogs, Skunks, Fox, Weasel, Squirrels (red, gray & black), Chipmonks, Opossum, Bear, Coyotes, Turkey and Porcupine. I love growing prennial plants, and to avoid needless disappointment, I try to plant, plants that most animals find unappetizing. For example Foxglove, Monkshood, Bear's Breeches, Alliums, and Herbs. Things that are poisonous, fuzzy, gray-green or prickly, are usually unappetizing. In addition to plant choices, I also use an amazing spray and granules called Repel's All. These things are working!!!! Last year I actually enjoyed Hosta and Day Lilies throughout their entire growing season.
I began animal proofing the gardens early this year. In March before the snow was gone from the gardens, I applied Repel's All granules to each garden. In April when spouts appeared, I sprayed them with Repel's All spray. As each plant grew, I reapplied spray to the new growth.
And....it is working even better than last year. Plants that I planted many years ago, that spouted and started growing but, were eaten before blooming...are now BLOOMING!!!
Plants that I almost forgot about...are now BLOOMING!!! There are 9 different species of Aquilegia, (Columbines) growing and blooming in the woodland shade garden. And many more plants that were also digested, before any enjoyment from this gardener.
I am so grateful to be able to live peacefully with the local fauna and truly enjoy the beauty of each prennial garden.

A few of the best plants...

that I never planted. The rock garden is above a wonderful rock wall which is now a garden itself. Within the nooks and crannies of the wall, many sedums and alpine plants now reside.
When we were in Italy, last May, we visited several fortified medieval cities, among them San Marino and Assisi. Those walls contained wonderful alpine plants, which I found fascinating.
Two of the many plants that are now residing within my garden walls are Papaver alpinum, Alpine Poppy and Corydalis lutea. (sorry but I don't know the common name of the Corydalis) The "parent plant" of the Corydalis is in the rock garden above the wall, and has provided seed for a least 6 of the "wall plants". The "parent plant" of the Poppy is gone now but its seed produced the wonderful specimen now growing within the wall. Sometimes the most delightful plants are those that plant themselves.