Should we make guesses as to how long my plants will last?
After a few years of living with drought conditions and fighting the deer, I may give up but for now, I have to be able to look out in the spring and see something blooming. The previous owners had cactus and really not much of anything in this bed at the front of the house. There is a hyacinth that just finished blooming. Either the deer didn’t notice it or they don’t eat hyacinths. There are some chives in there and some blue bonnets that are about to bloom so I tried to work around those. Otherwise, the rest of the stuff can stay for now but probably not forever. My rule is that if we don’t eat it or it doesn’t bloom, it doesn’t stay.
Yesterday I set out two rosemary plants, a dianthus and two lavender plants. I have two more dianthus and two more lavender that I’ll set out in the morning. I wish I had dug up some of my irises in MO and brought them with me but I didn’t. Some of them had been with me since Louisiana and in Kentucky and then Missouri, but that’s where their trip ended. I probably won’t get more irises but they’re blooming around town and it made me miss mine. They’re something else the deer don’t eat so . . maybe I will get more . . some day.
As soon as I get everything planted that I’m going to plant, we’ll get mulch and add it to this bed. Lots of work to be done around here . .
Denise ~ Justquiltin says
Yes most critters won’t touch the hyacinths – usually not deer nor rabbits.
Marky says
I wish I’d dug up some of my iris before we moved the last time too. They’d come from my grandmother’s garden so they were not only lovely but a sentimental memory of a woman no longer with us. The buyers of our house have moved on and the house is standing empty now. I’m so tempted to go thin the overgrown iris bed! If no one is in your MO house, maybe Chad could do a little ‘gardening’ there and bring you some iris.
Donna says
There’s just something about digging in the dirt in the spring that’s uplifting. I have to do it even if nothing that I plant survives. My little 2 year old grandson wants a shovel (hand type) every time he comes over so he can dig in the real dirt (not sandbox).
Good luck with the flowerbed and the deer.
Roberta says
Well you could talk to Chad, if there aren’t new owners or he could ask them if they really want the plants and bring a few down to you. Or ship them. Iris are tough. Bed looks good. Will the Rosemary winter over in TX???
Hugs!!!!
Liz says
Rosemary overwinters nicely in central Oklahoma and will grow huge in the southern part of TX. I finally had to dig out one of my rosemaries – it lasted 14 years in one location.
Eden hunt says
I like to see blooms in the spring too, Leave the chives, the deer actively avoid those so they may keep some of the other tastier plans safe. I could always send you some of my iris, they need thinning really badly. Maybe in the fall when they go dormant.
Linda in NE says
You could do a pool, like a football pool. Is that legal in TX? Prize, hmmmmm, venison steaks?? Deer are so beautiful, but they’re kind of like rats with antlers. They think most things are tasty treats just for them. Nebr. had some pretty serious deer seasons this year and it’s thinned them out a bit.
suzanne says
Judy, I have some Mexican Petunias and I don’t think the deer will eat them. They multiply, bloom purple flowers and are very drought tolerant. I am going to thin some of mine out and would send you some to transplant if you’d like to have them. Just email me at
smelkoski (at) yahoo (dot) com.
I think they would make it fine in the mail.
Nolene says
A suggestion. If you don’t minds bits of white stuff around, we put pieces of bars of soap around our baby pine trees that the deers were making into bushes. As long as you replace the soap before it is all gone, they left them alone. I am trying to remember what kind we used but I can’t. I will have to ask my husband. When we picked up all the soap, we did get some wierd looks but it took alot for 100 trees.
Judy in Michigan says
Deer won’t eat lavender or any smelly (like onion) plants. They don’t eat daffodils but love tulips! Your little garden looks very nice and will fill in quickly. They didn’t eat my roses but I’ve heard that they will eat roses, thorns and all, if they are hungry enough. Good luck! You could always put bird netting out but that defeats the purpose of having a pretty entrance/view. Have you heard about coyote urine??
Helen Koenigl says
I’m with you, Judy – I miss my Iris – and peonies – that I had in IL. Also miss my lilacs and forsythia too – but mostly the iris and peonies! I had some colors of peonies that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere. But am thinking of planting some here in MA this year anyway.
Wann Hart says
Judy, we stayed at a B&B in Johnson City a few years back. They had a field of lavender plants, but because of drought, most were dead. Anyway, they made soaps, etc. out of the lavender and sold it to guests that came to the B&B. I wondered how far you are from Johnson City.
Mary Jo says
Check the internet for listings of flowers that the deer won’t eat. The list isn’t huge, but there are things out there!
Barbara says
We have deer too. They love tulips, roses, abd dogwoods.
Marie says
Most people don’t care for marigolds, but they do keep the bugs and critters away from fruit trees. Haven’t had a deer eat them either, so they might be something you could plant. They have some that are really pretty. I have scads of iris, dug up my folks before Mom had sold the house and they do multiply easily, so let me know if you want any. Mom’s were mostly hybrid, but I also have my Grandma’s old fashioned purple/blue ones too. Lt. yellow, gold, two toned ones of different colors and browns too. I have planted them in a different location in March and April and they bloomed the same year.
Diane S. says
When we lived in the Boonies of northern Calif., we had deer and almost gave up growing ANYthing until someone said they don’t bother iris. Boy did I grow to love irises! I think you should plant some, Judy!
Sharon says
I wish the deer around here knew to not eat irises! I think it depends on the year, etc. and how hungry they are.
barbara says
wisteria is safe, i think. wouldn’t that be nice on the front porch? are you facing full sun there?