At this point yesterday, after hours of work, I still had about seventeen more wheelbarrow loads to go. The Mister and I did a lot of trimming and yard clean-up over the weekend, and I'm feeling it today. Boy, am I ever. But at the same time, I'm feeling good about the fact that it's done. At least that one corner back there.
June is here! The roses have bloomed, and the deer haven't touched them! I need to keep on top of spraying them with the magic concoction now as it seems to be working.
Especially with these dangerous characters looming. They'd all been lounging peacefully on the grass until they caught me hanging out of the window with my camera, trying to catch them unaware, but as you can see, those big eyes and ears miss nothing and they soon got to their feet.
Another one decided this was a good place to take a nap. They seem to like drinking out of this birdbath when it's full. It always cracks me up when I see them do this. I want to say, "Will there be anything more I can get for you, deer? Caviar? Champagne? Dew-dipped Rosebuds perhaps?"
Another shot of the blue Iris. So pretty. I appreciate the tip about dividing them regularly so they don't turn purple. I didn't know that, so thanks Jenera! In fact, thank you all for your comments and conversations regarding these lovelies and other topics of interest. Including my small attempts at needle-felting. Which, incidentally, lead to the discovery of this beautiful book, and an excellent tutorial for making felted sheep toys, compliments of Kim. (Her autographed book even comes with a free felted sheep! For which, I just put in my order.)
I need to unplug from the blog for awhile. Grace's 17th birthday and our 27th Anniversary are coming up (both on the same day), and there's much more to do in general, inside and outside, so my posts will be sporadic at best, with just a few words and pictures sprinkled in now and then. Feel free to drop by here anytime though and say "Hi". I'll be here. Wandering around. Somewhere.
Your deer shots are beautiful! I would love to have those sweeties in my garden, even if they ate all the flowers!
Posted by: Kim Chatel | June 02, 2008 at 01:45 PM
Your flowers are gorgeous!
Posted by: Danetta | June 02, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Great photos of the deer and beautiful flowers! Happy birthday to DD and Happy Anniversary to you and your husband.
Posted by: Jeanne | June 02, 2008 at 05:17 PM
So, what I need to know is are you also spraying your concoction on the daisies? That's where I have trouble... the ear-wigs distroy the dasies! They start to look really pretty and next thing I know... aurgh!!!!! Guess I may have to try it to see... please let me know if you have had any success with it on their... cause it it fouls the deer maybe it will work else where!
Your yard is lovely! Jean C.
Posted by: Jean C. | June 02, 2008 at 07:49 PM
Good job with all that yard work!! Your garden is beautiful, and your hard work is paying off! Take care and have a happy anniversary/birthday season!
Linnea
Posted by: Linnea | June 03, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Your yard is lovely.
I wonder if your concoction would work against the bunny army that lives around here? I think they are eating my corn and beans as they emerge!! I'm also missing a squash plant. I never had this much trouble with wildlife while we were on the farm!! These suburban bunnies are fearless and shameless!
Terri
Posted by: Terri Pollhein | June 03, 2008 at 02:45 AM
How do you attract those deer! Lovely plantings--enjoy your time off and share pics of your lovely garden when you can:-)
Posted by: Suzanne | June 03, 2008 at 04:56 AM
That top picture looks like our fire pit a few weeks back. Have a wonderful Anniversary. We just had our 29th last fall. I hope Grace has a nice 17th birthday. Enjoy your break.
Posted by: Judy | June 03, 2008 at 05:06 AM
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES! And I do think that the deer think that you are there for their pleasure... How reversed is that! LOL
Posted by: Christina | June 03, 2008 at 07:13 AM
Oh my gosh, I've said it before and I'll say it again... you live on a little piece of heaven on earth! Your pictures are so beautiful of your wildlife!! I just wrote a post about how my hands shake so bad when I'm taking pix of my wildlife (which is only chipmunks and squirrels! LOL) I can't even imagine what I'd be like if I had deer waltzing through the yard! Thanks for sharing such great photos! Hope the aches and pains wear off soon!...Donna
Posted by: An Enchanted Cottage | June 03, 2008 at 07:53 AM
Beautiful pictures of your flowers and the deer. Thanks for the recipe of the magic concoction, I'm going to give it a try on the much smaller wild life them comes visiting my garden. Enjoy your summer.
Posted by: jam | June 03, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I thought the purple iris warning sounded like an old wive's tale so I did some googling (especially since I've had a variety of iris here for 22 years & never had any turn purple. Here's a web site that might explain in case you're interested (it could save a lot of digging!). http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/iris/2002045248021678.html
Posted by: Sue | June 03, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Beautiful flowers.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: bs honey | June 03, 2008 at 09:07 PM
I need to do this as well. Also spray for the weeds in the driveway, spray for spiders, weedwack, cut the grass...it never ends, does it?
(You do make it look pretty though)
Posted by: paula | June 04, 2008 at 03:53 AM
My deer, you do such beautiful posts. Have fun with all the celebrations!
Becky
Posted by: Wonders Never Cease | June 04, 2008 at 07:37 AM
WOW! What nice visitors! They look so calm until they eat your daisies ;)~~~Love your blog! I just found it, and already it's a fave!~~~XXOO, Beth
Posted by: elizabeth holcombe | June 04, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Loving your photos... your garden is magical! We've been doing a lot of weeding and pruning these last few weeks too... and boy am I FEELING IT. We're not getting older, the ground is just getting harder and the berry bushes thicker. Not to mention the Scotch Broom is going even more crazy this year. I am not getting older. I am not getting older.
Congrats on your roses not getting eaten. Should the magic concoction ever fail... maybe you should try hanging your camera on the bushes.
Posted by: happy zombie | June 04, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Looking good...and I'm enjoying your blog too...thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Debs | June 05, 2008 at 06:50 AM
Looking good...and I'm enjoying your blog too...thanks for sharing :)
Posted by: Debs | June 05, 2008 at 06:50 AM
Such nice pictures of your garden.
Posted by: paula luckhurst | June 07, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Wat a lovely photos!
Kind regards,
Sonnja & Beertje Zonn
From the Netherlands
Posted by: Sonnja | June 07, 2008 at 07:03 AM
oh my.....they just come up and lay in your yard like that....so nice. such a jealous city girl here.
Posted by: star | June 07, 2008 at 11:41 AM