My Nectar Garden

[MissS]

Due to the deer eating my entire vegetable garden, last year I converted it into a perennial garden for Bees, Hummingbirds and Butterflies. Last year it was planted and this year it is flourishing.

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[Whwoz]

A hard way to get a beautiful garden. Sounds like some venison needs to be on the menu

[Setec Astronomy]

I guess I've been lucky with the deer, only one minor incident so far (other than them "pruning" my honeysuckle back a bit). Do I see some basil of some sort in there, perhaps African Blue, or is it just something that looks similar? I didn't know there was any basil that can be perennial in your zone.

[MissS]

@Whwoz Yes we are trying to get permission for some bow hunting to be done. The deer are too thick and very hungry. One evening a friend and I were enjoying a glass of wine and saw 27 deer (all doe's) pass through in just one hour. That was not even their busy time of the day. They are even eating the Spruce trees now. It's a HOA area and No Fences allowed. My veggie patch has been moved to the community gardens. It's the only way that I could figure out how to grow them.

[MissS]

I guess I've been lucky with the deer, only one minor incident so far (other than them "pruning" my honeysuckle back a bit). Do I see some basil of some sort in there, perhaps African Blue, or is it just something that looks similar? I didn't know there was any basil that can be perennial in your zone.

I do have some annuals in there for season long color and for nectar. I do have basil but it is in a pot on the patio. I think that what you are seeing is a perennial salvia.

[MsCowpea]

That is a beautiful perennial garden. Your whole yard looks lovely. I love the undulating terrain rather than a flat yard.
Were you able to grow vegetables someplace else?

Just read that you had to move to community garden. To bad HOA wouldn’t allow a pretty picket fence to enclose a vegetable garden.

[Growing Coastal]

Too bad about the veggie patch but wonderful to have so much room for flowers!
Looking good. No doubt that was fun to plant.

[WoodSprite]

Beautiful! I'm surprised hungry deer don't at you flowers, too.

[PlainJane]

It looks lovely. Must be wonderful to sit out and watch the action!

[MissS]

Beautiful! I'm surprised hungry deer don't at you flowers, too.

They do! I spray the garden with a mixture of fermented red pepper flakes, garlic, onion, cayenne pepper and rotten eggs on a regular basis. I only plant things that are deer resistant but they are only resistant not deer proof. I have also invested in a motion sensor sprinkler. That is the best investment that I have made in a very long time. I just love it.

[SpookyShoe]

I liked that you called it a Nectar Garden. So often bees, butterflies and hummingbirds can use the same plants.

[MissS]

I liked that you called it a Nectar Garden. So often bees, butterflies and hummingbirds can use the same plants.

This is true. Unfortunately the Japanese Beetles enjoy the same major nectar producers as the hummingbirds, Cuphea, Monarda (Jacob Cline is their favorite), Verbena Hastata and such. They drive me nuts.

[stone]

The cleome should be deer proof, and the monarda mostly ignored...
I was going to suggest lantana, but wouldn't be hardy for you...
Try foxglove and datura inoxia... Should be deer proof...
Maybe some mint... my pollinators love them some mtn mint (pycnanthemum sp) and... how about aralia spinosa?

Bummer not to have any food during the covid crisis.

[MissS]

@stone Thank you so much for the advise. The cleome is a great deer deterrent. It smells like a skunk and has thorns. What more could I ask for? For the most part the mondarda is left alone but the did enjoy pruning 2 plants of Jacob Cline, they did leave the other varieties alone. The aralia spinosa is a fantastic idea. Something like that would look great in the garden!

[MissS]

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[MissS]

Monarch feeding on Litaris

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Brugmansia

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[SpookyShoe]

MissS, you certainly know how to attract the critters!

I saw a hummingbird about 10 days ago... he looked like a scout to me. I haven't seen any since in my back yard, but others in my neighborhood have reported them. I've got my feeders out and I've got plenty of plants for them to feast upon. It's only a matter of time before they decide to show up. They always do.

[MissS]

@SpookyShoe The males are on their way to you now. Last week I had a lot of them moving through here. Today I only saw one. So sorry but I am holding the rest of the crowd here for a few more weeks cause it's just starting to get really really fun!

[MissS]

Great Spangled Fritillary

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Great Spangled Fritillary

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Great Spangled Fritillary

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[MissS]

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