Friday, April 3, 2009

Dang Varmints


#!@#!@# those cute deers. They came into the
yard and ate off about fifty of my new tulips that
were planted in a new bed along the woods that
I worked up last Fall. Makes me so mad.
I have Tulips in my other beds and they never
bothered them before so I thought they would leave these
alone too. Not! That is what I get for thinking.





These are not the guilty varmints that ate my the
Tulips but a deer is a deer. Or is it? These pictures
were given to me by a relative and they are not to clear.
They are copies and it was a cloudy day.
Notice anything strange about the one doe?
She looks like a very skinny-necked cow that
is all spotted. I tried to get pictures of her for
about the four years that she was around here
but could never get close enough.
She is not all albino but she sure looks strange.
She was around the area for four years and always
had twin babies every year and none of them got the
messed up genes that she had.
Last Fall a local hunter shot her during deer
hunting season and everyone here in the area
was really ticked off at him.
I am a country girl and believe in keeping the
populations thinned down and use to hunt so
we were not aggravated that he shot a deer but
we kind of liked having her around to watch over
the years.
Some eww and ahh when they see deers but they can
cause a lot of damage here in the farm lands.
My parents had to put a electric fence around their
garden to keep them from eating everything.
I sure do not want them eating my flowers no
matter how cute the little fawns may be.
So I may have to make up an old lady scarecrow
to put by the bed with some deer be gone on her.
Does anyone know of a good spray?





I have seen pictures of deers that were all white but I
have not saw
any marked like she was.





The Forsythia bushes are blooming now. They
really brighten up the scenery. These were by an
old rambled house that I passed while out taking
a ride around the country side to see what was in
bloom. While I was in the city this week so many trees
were in bloom but out in the country there is not much
happening yet. The heat from buildings in the city
must cause everything to bloom sooner.



We have had one snow since the Forsythia starting
blooming so we are due two more.
We are suppose to have colder weather coming in
the first of the week with snow showers so we will
see if the old saying "Three more snows after the Forsythia
blooms" comes to pass.
I can live with the old saying being completely wrong
and forget all about more snow. Would not hurt my
feelings at all.


20 comments:

Dirt Princess said...

now you know that the Dirt Princess knows what that deer is!!! It is called a pibald. It is a genetic disorder. My Paw-paw always said that bad things would happen to a hunter (or huntress) who killed a pibald or albino deer. He used to tell us a story about a man in town that killed an albino buck and had it full body mounted and on the way to the taxidermist to pick the deer up, he had a massive heartattack and died. Now Paw-paw was convinced that it was because that man killed an albino deer...but we will never know now will we.

The funny thing about deer is that they can smell human scent from miles away, and when you hunt it is very important for them not to smell you. But if they are in your backyard and you are out there...they could careless about you. Crazy deer. Maybe if you stuck a mounted deer on the back porch this would deter them....they wouldn't like seeing their cousin hanging on a wall!!! LOL!

Have a great dirt-y weekend ;)

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

That was a really unique doe. I have not seen one like that before. To bad someone killed her. I am sure they wanted her hide. They don't shoot does here. We just have buck season. I am sure there are people who poach them though.
Did you try putting a radio out for the deer? That really works. Tune in to Talk Radio station and leave it turned up loud.(-:
I had a really pretty forsythia tree but a cow came in and broke it off at the ground. I was pretty upset about that. Someone left the gate open. )-:

Cathy S. said...

They are cute, love the forsynthias it just brightens up everything.

Heather said...

I know what you mean about pretty still being a nuisance. I love deer.... in the forest, not in my yard. Good luck.
-Heather

Phoenix C. said...

We've never had problems with deer, but a couple of years ago with rabbits. I read up about harmless deterrents. The best one I could find was garlic! So I got the greengrocer to give me the garlic that was a bit past its best and made a thick stew, soaked it overnight and sloshed it on the vulnerable plants. It seemed to work! (And the garden smelled lovely!!)

Catherine@AGardenerinProgress said...

I'm sorry those deer ate all your tulips!
The forsythia is blooming here now, but it still has been cold. I'm hoping we all get some nice sun and no more snow!

Anonymous said...

Hi Lona~~ That is the strangest looking doe I have ever seen. In addition to her coloring, her body looks strangely elongated.

I've got tulips in my front yard. They're a late variety so they're barely up yet. Last year the deer got them and I've been seeing them around so I should get a spray repellent too. Not sure which kind.

I'm sorry the buggers got to yours before you had a chance to enjoy them. Gardening has no shortage of frustrations.

Bren Haas said...

Wonderful deer shots... we have yet to get a photo of the mama and 2 little fawns living in the meadow of our woods. LOVE the photos!!!!
ALSO... your Forsythia busy photos give me hope. I can't wait for mine to bloom.
I just planted some pansies under my dogwood and I keep checking the weather with hopes that the 40 degree weather keeps getting pushed off!

Happy spring!

lynn'sgarden said...

Hi Lona, I like to look at mommy and fawns too but not in my own yard..lol. Such a shame about your tulips!! I have been spraying twice a week (with the the rain we've had) with a product called Bobbex...warning, it's way stinky but it works for me. Deer Off worked for a while but no more..I think they get immune to them after a while.
Didn't know about the snow and forsythia saying...hope it's not true here.
Lynn

Anonymous said...

Because we are transplants from the city, we still think deer are so interesting when we see them nearby, but then again, they haven't bothered our yard yet! Still, I've seen them just across the road from our subdivision, many times, so that thought keeps me from planting tulips.

Lanny said...

"Dang varmits" is no kidding, we seeded a ten acre pasture five times before the grass out grew the Canada geese eating it; I have lost numerous garden produce just days before harvest to deer; the bald eagle and coyotes have more leg of lamb dinners than I do because the customers' freezer comes first; weasels, possum, and raccoon have eaten poultry that was furnishing steady eggs or cleaned up and ready to go to the show. And those are just the cute picturesque members of nature and their devistation. I am so sorry for your tulips! I totally understand, and I still excitedly run to the window when the girls say, "mom there is a deer out by the pond." Go figure.

tina said...

I hear deer love tulips. What a bummer. Maybe that deer be gone spray works? The trick is to be consistent. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

Wow. That is one hardy forsythia. If I lived close I would cut me off half a dozen limbs or the ends and stick them in the ground at home. In a year or two I would have young forsythia bushes like these, just smaller. I have not seen any like those here where I live. The deer with the white is not really an albino though it looks like it might be. If the eyes are not pinkish red then it must be a condition known as "leucism." You can look it up on Google and learn more and see if you think it fits this beautiful animal.

Lona said...

Dirt Princess: A Piebald. I had never heard of it/ That is such an interesting story and I am so glad you shared it with me.
I know go figure on getting to them in the woods hinting and have to be free of any scent other than deer then they come up to peoples houses. It is a mind bender figuring them out.

Cindee: I would try rap music but I would be the only one to run off then :) Why the clumsy cow. Will it come back up from the roots?

Cathy: I like the yellow of them but do not have one in my yard. There are many around here growing where old farms and houses use to be.

Heather: Me and the deer would get along fine if they just stayed in the woods.

Phoenix C: Thanks for dropping by. That's it. I will make a scarecrow and put a garlic necklace around her neck and red pepper in her pockets! :)

Catherine:I hope you get some sun and that everyone does not get anymore snow.

Grace: I am sorry also. I had planted about fifty others around the house and they are just blooming and so pretty. The swath that the deer ate would be lovely against the woods. Not to be this year.

Bren: You watch momma deer and babies because they will be eating your posies :)

Lynn: I am like you, I think they get use to things after a while. Last year I tried aluminum pans along my garden, that helped keep the tomatoes for awhile then they got use to hearing the noise and started coming right up to them :)

Robin: yes, they will get braver as time goes by and be in your yard.

Lanny: I know what you are talking about. People do not hunt like they use to and now there are too many varmints running around. We had to hunt to have food on the table when I was young so the populations were lower. Maybe more people will since times are harder again. I think they are cute too but not in my yard :)

Tina: I will probably have to rotate sprays and other tricks so they do not become use to them.

Susan said...

It's kinda neat to have such wildlife in the garden but I can see where they would be a problem when it comes to your plants. My wildlife pest is the lubber grasshoppers. Good luck saving your tulips. The forsythia is beautiful!

Monica the Garden Faerie said...

I have the same problem with tulips (and crocuses) with groundhogs (also cute but annoying). I've never seen a deer of that color, either. Our forsythias are right behind yours, JUST starting to leaf out.

garden girl said...

I'm really glad we don't have to deal with them in our garden Lona. My parents have the same problem - live in a rural area, have lots of deer (and other critters,) and have an electric fence around their garden too. The deer are so bold, and so hungry in the winter, they come right up to the house, even look in the windows sometimes, and eat the landscaping around the foundation. My parents say it's only been in the few years they've been so bad, and it gets worse every winter.

Besides the fact that alot of their predators are gone, the disease they're finding in deer like mad cow disease means people aren't hunting them anymore, and they're reproducing so fast there's not enough for their population to eat, especially in winter. Yikes. I hope you can find a way to keep the varmints away!

kd said...

Not having deer here (we're in the city) I think they're really cute and would love the opportunity to see one in my yard -- once would suffice. We have raccoons, squirrels, & the occasional groundhog causing mischief around here. Want to trade :) ?

Lona said...

Susan: It is nice being so close to nature at times but at other times no.We do not have much trouble with grasshoppers here anymore. Thanks for dropping by.

Abe Lincoln: Thanks for some interesting facts on the deer. I have no luck with propagating plants or shrubs. If they were mine you would be welcome to as many of the limbs as you wanted.Thanks for dropping by.

Monica: She is a rare deer for certain around here. Everyone watched her all the time. She was in my Mom's yard about every evening with her babies.

GardenGirl: Then you know first hand what pests the cute things can be. It is going to be a challenge to keep them away now.

KD: If it were possible I would send you a hundred and we would still have too many here. :) Thanks for dropping by.

Adrienne Zwart said...

I'll have to get back to you with the name, but we have had some success with a spray. I also have a hairdresser friend who supplies me with clippings to spread around the beds. I agree with you, they are pretty animals, but so frustrating when they destroy our plants. I've gone so far as to purchase plants that are "deer resistant", but even those get nibbled when the deer are hungry enough.