Deer, Deer, Go Away

Deer are beautiful creatures.  However, when they begin invading my yard and eating things they shouldn't be, they are not so attractive any longer.  I realize that until yesterday we had gone 90 plus days without rain, but seriously...does it have to always be my yard they deem their feeding ground!  They did eat one of our neighbor's Double Knock Out Roses and sampled Amy's Zinnia, but they go to town at my house.  They started with the Coleus around the tree.

What's odd is that they only ate some of them.  There are still a number of the red ones that they left alone. 

Smart me decided last Friday to stop by and pick up some "deer resistant" plants to filter in among the coleus in hopes to detour them.  Thankfully, I only put in half of what I bought, because Saturday morning I was greeted by the day to them all being mowed down!  They ate the Mexican Mint Marigold down to numbs, ripped the Black-foot Daisies to shreds and de-buttoned the Bachelor Buttons of their buttons.  Grrr...   I know, I know, they were young and if they were more seasoned they might have been left alone. 

Adding to my trauma, I left the house Monday with a yellow rose getting ready to open...when I left the house Tuesday, it was gone! Then I realized they were eating my Heart Leaf Ice Plant...they've never, ever bothered that before and we've had our share of droughts.  Even on the front porch, they walked right up the the door and stuck their snouts in a pot with a Double Impatient and 3 coleus and snipped of just the Impatient buds!  I guess they just don't like red Coleus very much.  Excuse the picture, I snapped it with my phone in the garage as an afterthought. 

What's really irritating, is that my next door neighbor (the one with all the cats) planted new Impatients out front and they haven't touched them yet...everyone knows they love those things, but nooooo, they'd rather eat my lovlies!

I picked up some Liquid Fence Deer Repellent last night.  I decided it would be a good time to apply it while we were sitting out front talking to the neighbors tonight.  Not such a brilliant idea...it reeks, and that's putting it mildly!!  Everyone started with, "Mandy, stop! Put it up, that's nasty!", and made their way to the end of the driveway.  I kept spraying and trying not to breath, you can still smell it out there!  It's supposed to dissipate, so I hope it's a little less offensive to our noses tomorrow. My husband told me that I sure know how to break up a party! I thought it was funny anyways, although I think I need to wash my hands again.

If the Liquid Fence fails, my next plan of action is to cover myself in deer dung, lay in wait and give the unsuspecting thieves a punch in the nose!  I'm joking of course, but they're really getting on my nerves!  Maybe I should instead just be a little more serious in my prayers for rain...I think I'll try that option first. 

They're so beautiful, but really, they need to pick on someone else!

Mandy