"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Monday, June 1, 2015

New Deer Delicacy




Not long ago I lamented the fact I'd have to get in my goldfish pond to clean it out.  It has been raining nonstop for so long, I haven't been able to.


Be that as it may, look what the deer cleaned out of the gold fish pond for me.  I caught them red handed.  They have never done it before.  Tulips and flowers, yes, but never the water lilies.  

Just wish they had gotten in and chopped up the lily roots for me so I wouldn't have to.  Where are the clothespins for my nose?  Oh well, at least it's a sunny, warm day.

And, my beautiful old Japanese Maple did die, but I replanted it with a blue atlas cedar on the right.  I love those too.

I want to tell you that I almost always comment on your blogs, but I usually get an email stating  message failure to send.  Something like that anyway.  I don't have a clue what it is about, but just wanted you to know I am reading and enjoying all of your posts even if my comments aren't getting through.  Let me know if this has ever happened to you.

16 comments:

Kirsten Steen said...

Wow! Every year they surprise me with what they have decided to eat...and then what they've left alone that year. What a lovely pond. Never heard of them eating water lillies. I always find such interesting things here!

Joanne Noragon said...

At my house, tulips and the grape hyacinth leaves, before the hyacinth's bloomed. No accounting for deer palates.

elaine said...

Did they actually go in the water to eat the leaves - I wonder is it because they are hungry or just inquisitive - let's hope they don't make a habit of it.

donna baker said...

Thank you Kirsten and I'll be hurrying over to read all about your trip to NYC.

donna baker said...

Joanne, the only thing I know for sure that they won't eat are the daffodils.

donna baker said...

When I went out there they were standing on the rocks beside the pond, but I wondered the same thing. Were their necks long enough to reach that far? As I mentioned, the root ball is as big as a meteorite so I wondered if they might have stood atop that. As for habit, if I treasure it, they are going to eat it. I don't think they are hungry as it is the time of plenty as far as their eating habits and right in the middle of birthing season. I am stumped Elaine.

Michelle said...

Interesting! I have never known them to eat these!

donna baker said...

Me either Michelle. That pond has been there 20 yrs. and they've never eaten the lilies.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I wonder why they have suddenly started eating in the pond. Hope they haven't developed a taste for it.

donna baker said...

Hello Weaver. The only difference I know of is all of the water we've received this spring. It has been the wettest spring in recorded history. Can't imagine why that would be the catalyst for the lily eating, but I can't think of another incident that could cause it.

donna baker said...

Hello Weaver. The only difference I know of is all of the water we've received this spring. It has been the wettest spring in recorded history. Can't imagine why that would be the catalyst for the lily eating, but I can't think of another incident that could cause it.

La Table De Nana said...

Oh my gosh.. those dastardly deer!
Love your pond Donna..don't know how i missed this post?:(

La Table De Nana said...

Oh my gosh.. those dastardly deer!
Love your pond Donna..don't know how i missed this post?:(

donna baker said...

The beasts really have become a nuisance here on the farm. I asked a farmer once, how to keep the deer from eating all the crops. He said, you plant more than they can eat. I guess we're talking acres and acres of pumpkins, berries etc.

jerilanders said...

I guess we are lucky with the deer, but I think it has more to do with having 2 Great Pyrenees on the premises to keep the deer from leaping the fence.

donna baker said...

I found yesterday that they have been up on the deck again, eating my tomato plants and strawberry plants. I had to cut up strips of bird netting to cover up everything. It was so hot. this happened last year too so the culprits must have been the same ones from last summer. They also ate our blackberry vines this winter and we won't be getting any blackberries this summer. I used to like deer.