This is my paternal great-grandmother, Maria, in Hungary. My father spent many childhood summers, giving up his "city boy ways," living the "simple country life," with Maria (his mother had him late in life and, apparently, he was a handful!) and, according to my father, it was anything and everything…but, simple!
Still, as tough as Maria's life was, my father insists that she was the sweetest, kindest, most gentlest person on earth.
Unlike, her great-granddaughter (that would be me!) who is about ready to snare her some Bambi!
Exhibit A: Deer tracks (post-sprinkler) this morning.
No, I don't want to hurt Bambi (much) but, gardening is HARD work and, all of a sudden, after 17 years of fighting with aphids, hornworms and garden slugs (oh my!) NOW it seems like we've got deer!
Exhibit B: Hopey's prized-cabbage (she was growing to win a $1000 scholarship) beheaded!
Not just any deer (mind you) but, ravenous-militant-vegetable-swiping-giant-moose-of-an-animal that carries away an entire head of cabbage!?!?
Exhibit C: Tops of tomato plants chewed!
I went out to pick some tomatoes a few weekends ago and…OMG…where have ALL of my tomatoes gone?
Exhibit D: What was my parsley!
I know…so, we've got deer…no BIG deal, right?
Exhibit E: WTH is it?
All I kept thinking was…this is MY garden (DAGNABIT!) and WWMD (what would Maria do?) no question about it — I HAVE TO DEFEND IT! So, Garth (not his real name) installed this sweet little motion detector smack dab in the middle of my Concord grape vine!
Just like Maria's (see picture at top of post) minus the motion detector, I mean.
Exhibit F: New growth!!!
Yes, Maria is probably ROIHGL (rolling over in her grave laughing) bless her squishy little heart!
But, when in Jersey…you know…and, combined with my new bontanically-based insecticidal soap (email me and I'll let you know which) it seems to be working.
Exhibit H: The vegetable bed that lived
Oh, and no, we are NOT crucifying anyone – that's just the clothes line that Garth (not his real name) rigged up by the pool, so that the kids can hang up their wet towels, which, unfortunately, they do NOT use…DAGNABIT!
[sound of crickets chirping]
Morale of the Story: Deer do NOT like eggplant.
Stupid urban/suburban sprawl!
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Comments
70 responses to “D’oh, There’s a Deer in My Garden, Dear Maria, Dear Maria!”
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
Did someone say Suburban Scrawl? Oh…never mind. SPRAWL. I get it! 😉
I’m so sorry about Hope’s cabbage. Well, I’m sorry about all of it, but you know, she’s a youngster and all.
You’re a much better woman than I: I despise gardening. I didn’t have any deer in my backyard this year, and yet all of our plants are dead. Imagine that! 🙁
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
I live in the city. The deer don’t really like the city all that much. HOWEVER, since I don’t use poisons in my front and back yards, the bunnies are in seventh heaven. I have more bunnies munching my grass (and weeds) than all the other (Chem-Lawn) lawns and gardens combined. I also have other wild life in there, including snakes. OH YUK! An outdoor girl I am not.
So that’s what eggplant looks like in its natural state . . .
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
If I had a working camera, you would be able to see its cool swirly lavender color 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Being a great lover of garden art, I enjoyed going through your blog. keep on posting.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
Poor Bambi!
You crack me up.
I can see Hopey in Maria, can you?
I’m impressed with the garden. You are a woman of many talents.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
This is one of the reason I didn’t plant a garden but my neighbor said to wrap fishing line around the stakes. They can’t see it and it will spook them.
That’s what I’ll try for next year when I plant my first garden.
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
Hi Kim!
Hah… my dad insists that Hopey and I look a lot like Maria, too! My garden is a humble 5 beds wide; my dad built his own greenhouse out of pvc pipe, some old railroad ties and anything else he could find, the man was amazing at making the oddest things work, really. Hah… my husband insists that I inherited the "I'll make it work," gene from my dad, too 🙂
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
AWESOME! Thanks for the tip, Allison!!
Hugs,
Liz
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?
Most people garden for pleasure. Do you think so ?