I love them in the neighbor's yard........................I hate them when they come near mine.
I've been studiously working on finding "deer resistant" (what a joke) planting. My coveted Lady Banks rose is supposed to be deer resistant. They consumed a five foot tall plant in one evening. Fortunately it grows like lightening and is trying it's best to outpace their appetites.
A (very) few of the plants I recently put in have remained untouched. I'll take a look and tell you what they haven't liked for late night snacking so far.
Mary, you have discovered a universal truth: Deer do not like to share.
We've had our little battles here as well. Finally, I put an obstacle course around the two apple trees that are loaded with apples for the first time in years after I found that one particular huge doe had eaten one entire side of the McIntosh apple tree, branches, apples and all. They don't like to step on stuff that they can be tangled in or that moves under their feet in any weird way so a conglomeration of twisted no longer used fencing and turkey wire and various trash pile items are encircling those two trees.
Darn it, I want to eat my own apples!
They don't like to step on stuff that they can be tangled in or that moves under their feet in any weird way so a conglomeration of twisted no longer used fencing and turkey wire and various trash pile items are encircling those two trees.
Here are some of the pictures from my hike. The first day, we hiked cross country to meet up with the Pacific Crest Trail at Tinkers Knob. We hiked this, and also hiked through the field you see in the middle right part of the picture. This part was pretty scary as the mountainside's were steep and you were grabbing onto tree branches to keep you from sliding down the mountain. At some points we were on hands and feet to climb parts of it.
The view from the field we hiked through.
Looking behind us from this point, you saw this neat mountain formation.
We made it to the top (8,400 feet) and joined up with the Pacific Crest Trail. It's very windy up here.
As you can see, not much in the way of water up here. Thankfully, around the bend, we came across a snow bank and filled our containers with snow.
We thought we'd never make camp that night, but we finally did and collapsed into our tents. We saw markers for the Donner Party Wagon trail.
The 2nd day, we started out by the Soda Springs ski resort training center. This is Donner Lake, the old Hwy 40, and a whole lot of granite.
We were all exhausted, so not too many pictures on this day. We camped near this mountain hut, next to a creek. For those of you familiar with the area, it is just down from Castle Peak. We very much enjoyed soaking our sore feet in the creek, doing laundry, and using the "facilities". The ramp is so you can use the pit toilet in winter.
This is the hut that you can rent. It was closed for repairs, but it has a makeshift kitchen, table and wood stove. You sleep on the floor. It's used a lot in winter.
This was the view in the morning of the area we camped. LOTS of mosquitoes! Notice the PCT hiker sitting on the rock having breakfast.
The same valley, as we hiked away from it:
Lots of wildflowers:
The trail was constantly changing in terrain.
In this area, we came across a spring. No need to filter, and it was the coldest, best tasting water ever!
The view from the top of one of the mountains. If you look closely, you can see the trail on the next ridge, about halfway down the ridge.
Looking back at where the above picture was taken:
We dry camped that night. The next morning, we set out for Jackson Meadows. This is Lake Spaulding:
My son on the trail.
Our end goal of the hike came into view - The Sierra Buttes.
And Jackson Meadows Reservoir, where we were headed to that night.
And then we made it. After a rest period and using the campgrounds flush toilets, we went down to the lake to soak our feet.
Our last day heading out and getting back to the trail.
One of the creeks along the trail.
Coming to the end of our hike, The Sierra Buttes above us. We hiked into town on this utility road.
We ended with 56 miles completed in 5 days. A very short distance of the entire trail. It was fascinating talking to the hikers that are doing the entire trail. Most of them left the Mexico border in April and are hoping to make the Canadian border by October 1st.
Honey, we desperate folks do desperate things. Of course, I live on a very private mountain acreage and no one can see my efforts to keep the hooved rats at bay. Tell Tucker to get off that couch and go get those marauders!
Finally, this year for the first time since I planted them, some azaleas my dad dug up from his yard and transported to my place, bloomed nicely. The reason? I managed to keep deer netting on top of them all winter finally. They love azaleas. They love roses, too, but roses don't bloom well at my place since I don't get much direct sun here.
They do love my roses.........................but this rose was different, a wild climber they aren't supposed to like. The description says it will scramble over fences, sheds, trees and any onlooker that stands close too long
It's a Lady Banks rose (lutea)..................gorgeous. I saw them planted on the side of the road when I went to the Red Bluff show. Jason identified them for me by my vague description "a zillion yellow flowers". It does need sun to bloom at it's best though.
The other possibility he gave me was a primrose jasmine (I've planted one of these as well). The deer have tasted it, but mostly left it alone.
