Dear Deer,
It’s hard to deny that you are beautiful. No matter how many times I may have seen you, I can’t help but catch my breath whenever I get a glimpse of you.
But Deer, there is something I have to get off my chest. Although there is no easy way to say it, you’ve become somewhat of a drag. You think everything is yours for the taking. I spend HOURS planting shrubs, trees and daylilies and you just come along and gobble them up in just a few minutes. I don’t know how many times I can tell you this without being rude, but I plant these things because I want to see them bloom. I plant them because I want to make my garden more beautiful and because I love them. THEY ARE NOT FOR YOU!!!
I guess what I’m trying to say is, the salad days are over. It’s true that I still catch my breath when I see you, but it’s now caught in dread instead of awe. I’m sorry if you find that hurtful, but sometimes the truth can sting. In case you haven’t figured it out, I don’t want to see you anymore. Stay away from my garden. Stay away from my flower beds. Most of all, STAY AWAY FROM MY DAYLILIES
Some words from Stewart Oakes:
“In some areas of the country, deer have become an increasing problem for homeowners. Deer will eat all parts of your daylilies, buds, flowers and leaves. If other food is not available, they will come up to the edge of your home and eat the foundation plantings around your house. They have been reported to even eat plants like rhododendron and, here in the south, okra.
We have yet to identify daylilies that are deer resistant, even the the old roadside plant, h.fulva is not safe. There are commercial sprays that will keep deer away, however, they are relatively expensive and may need to be reapplied. We offer this recipe for a spray you can make at home. It is relatively inexpensive.”
Paul Chupka, a daylily hybridizer in Mifflinville, PA, offers this recipe for a Deer Free garden:
Paul Chupka’s “Deer Free” spray
6 eggs
whole head of garlic, peeled
1 tsp xanthan gum
Place in blender with enouth water to fill. Blend and double strain. Place in two gallon sprayer and shake.
Spray daylilies every five days or so.
Smell goes away when dry.
*Please note that we haven’t tried this recipe ourselves.We don’t use anything to keep the deer away from our fields and we do lose a few daylily buds to them each year, but not so many that we feel compelled to spray.
