What did you do in the garden today?

[Smokerbill]

Yeah, a deer got into my garden last night. I went out and took some pics and the damage is worse than I thought.

But I have the supplies I need now to put up a 2 row, 3D electric fence. I bought some fiberglass electric fence posts, a jar of peanut butter and a 12 pack of MIller High Life. The beer is for my hydration needs... and the peanut butter is bait that I'll smear on aluminum foil squares and attach to the hot electric fence. The deer need first hand (nose) experience of what the electric fence will do.

The 3D fence consists of two separate runs. An inner run, with two wires at 10" and 24" high. Three feet outside of that is another wire, 18" high. The design is supposed to confuse the deer's perception, and they won't jump over.

We'll see about that.

Good news first. Here's a pic of my first zinnia blossom, with more to come. My lavender and last year's parsley are both about ready to bloom too. Behind the parsley is the grass like clump of crocosmia. It will bloom later in the season, nice bright red-orange blossoms. It's been fertilized and watered regularly so I think it will bloom pretty good this year. I need to dig it up this fall or next spring and replant the corms somewhere.



Bad news now...
The deer "pruned" three of my tomatoes.

Deer tracks...


Green beans....




Carrots. The deer really liked carrot tops...



And turnip tops...



And lettuce and broccoli.



But more good news. My new carrot and lettuce seedlings are sprouting, and my rattlesnake beans are climbing. Do vining beans just send up a single vine that branches out and grows on the trellis? Never grew them before.



Dang deer. I'm going to buy a deer hunting permit and put one in the freezer this fall. If I'm going to fatten them up, I deserve to eat one. LOL

 

[fuzzi]

Well, bummer. The big watermelon that I put in a sling broke off the vine anyway. And it wasn't ripe.

I wondered if the chicks might like it?

I put one half in the front area of the coop, and the other half towards the back, where the Dominiques would have un-bullied access.

Guess who got enough courage to try it first?

Oh, and see the green vines to the left? Those were covered in bush bean leaves last night!

I found another cantaloupe, too.

 

[Sally PB]

Dang deer. I'm going to buy a deer hunting permit and put one in the freezer this fall. If I'm going to fatten them up, I deserve to eat one.

That sounds fair.

 

[Smokerbill]

That sounds fair.

I think so. I just bought my archery deer license. Freakin' deer!!!!!

I love watching them, but I like eating them too. LOL

 

[CNJ]

The black round progagating jig I left on my Fruit Punch mango tree branch for 2 months worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am really encouraged by the results, this opens a whole new world for me..........

Paz said it couldn't be done, but I just did it..........................

 

[Smokerbill]

The electric fence posts and strands are all in place. The energizer is mounted. Just need to run the hot side of the energizer to the wires and the ground side to the ground post.

Add some enticing peanut butter foil treats to the wires and I'll be set. Hopefully the deer will learn that they shouldn't mess with Smokerbill's garden...

If I was 20 years younger it wouldn't have been such a big deal, but my old body hurts in a millions places, so being on the clock to get a job like this done on time is difficult. But I'm in the home stretch, so I'm feeling a little better.

The chickens are in permanent detention too. Free ranging them is great for them, but really difficult for me. I'll expand their run pretty soon. It is what it is.

 

[chickengr]

I have a huge need for peace and quiet. And, yes, it is a NEED. I could not go back to living in the city. I've been out here in the boonies for 29 years, and I'll leave when they carry me out in a box.

x2. after london, rome and athens I bought a place where I don't have neighbors. I can see a village on the opposite hill but hear nothing. the village my place belong to is about 5 minutes walk from here but I don't see it and hear nothing as well. perfect for me.

 

[chickengr]

The squash tree method is very easy.. you just have to start early and do a lot of pruning early.. but it is worth it, no bugs, no mildew, no hidden monster squash.. I posted here a few years ago and shared my granny’s technique of making summer squash into a “tree” I’ll share pictures if you like.. and details how to achieve the result you are looking for..

I like the idea but not possible in july and august here. only bushy plants might survive with brutal heat. I am considering to try squash tree method in autmn.

 

[Smokerbill]

Electric fence is powered on. Neighbors are firing off loud fireworks, which will probably scare the deer away, while annoying me.

 

[chickengr]

just watering. we expect brutal heat today.