I was looking at the list of deer resistant plants at high country today and laughing. Let's see, Gallardia - nope, Liatris - nope, Red-hot poker - nibbled every year, Buddelia - she got that, artemisia - that was attacked last night, Jupiter's beard - an apparent favorite.

But her meal last night was the most surprising yet. Well, she uprooted the peppers I had moved to the sun and ate those again, not so surprising, and the egg plant leaves she nibbled were typical, but I had not seen her take cauliflower leaves, and she ate one from each of the largest plants, leaving the head and other leaves alone. Here is what has me stumped, the stupid thing actually ate a bunch of Acorn Squash leaves, probably a quarter to a third of them. What sort of deer likes squash leaves. She must have a defect. She left the patty pan and zuke alone. Nutty thing.

Maggie

Actually, I've always heard that deer adore squash leaves - particularly pumpkins. I'm not surprised about them liking brassica leaves either, since they're edible for humans too.

The deer around have (for the time being at least) left tomatoes, peppers, & eggplants strictly alone. And any greens or root vegetables I grow are always done under floating row covers, so that takes care of that.

I know you've probably heard this before, but if deer are hungry enough, they'll eat just about anything.

I have a fairly large rugosa rose in a border bed on one side of my house. Thorny SOB, but fragrant as all get out. Figured it'd be safe from Bambi. Thorny barrier or not, however, last season she nibbled off all the early season buds and a few hips that were developing from flowers she missed in her first pass.

This year, I knew to spray it early on and, so far, it's been untouched. Aside from most herbs and most salvias, I've never had deer damage any of my buddleias - and I've got dozens of them all over in different beds. But....you still never know.

If they eat Gooseberries, then I wouldn't guess any kind of thorn will stop them, and sure she gets my roses every year, but they grow back.

She even tried the Salvia, but not kitchen sage. Maybe I'll just grow that everywhere.

Playing phone tag with the deer fence guy. Just for the back. The front will have to figure out a way to survive. There are three eating up there, and they are so over all of the sprays I've tried.

Still, it's a blast.

Maggie

Have you tried the blood spray?

I found it worked well with my Moose.

Just curious.

I am always scared that it will attract the bears though.....

The deer have eaten my pumpkin leaves and they even ate a Yucca. They were really hungry that year.
datgirl

Yup, a local SOB deer ate the leaves off the pumpkins that I let grow through the garden fence onto the lawn. It took a big bite out of the one pumpkin growng out there, the only one of any size so far. Didn't appear as if it liked it.

There's plenty for the deer to eat this time of year so I can only conclude the bastards like pumpkin leaves.

Wayne

We're so very dry here in Roanoke, VA where I am, that the deer don't seem to have much of a preference, just whatever is in their path except the pokeweed and knotweed; things I wish they would devour, but not a chance. I'm only 1/4 mile from the city limits, but we do have some wooded land in the neighborhood and quite a few hay fields. The other day, there were 16 different deer that came through. One group had 7 bucks together. By October, they will hate each other, and you probably won't see the bucks together after that.