That a pretty big deer there in the Rose Field. I see evidence of light deer damage on my roses from time to time, but it is rarely anything really terrible. To be safe, though, I plan to protect my newly planted baby roses with little wire cages till spring.
"Hart" is an old English word for deer. It's no surprise, therefore, to see deer in a place named Hartwood ... though I see WAY more deer in neighboring subdivisions than I do here in our country setting.
The deer are in overdrive here right now. I absolutely love them. It's funny because when I was a kid and there was so much hunting land around here deer were very skittish around people. But now that my area has been developed for a few deer generations, they are so comfortable with people. I've noticed bucks are less comfortable. I wonder if they know through instinct they are more in danger? Regardless, I just love interacting with them. I'd love to have a trail camera!
ReplyDeleteOur deer are those skittish country deer that you remember. We can't get within 50 yards of 'em, and I'm totally okay with that. Bucks are supposed to protect their does, so I'm thinking that they are genetically wired to be a bit more watchful. My trail camera is the best $169 ever!
DeleteSo funny... just posted a deer post myself...lol The deer here decimate my roses .... so i'd rather see the deer than build Ft. Knox for my roses... It looks like we have way way more deer than you though... The previous owners were able to keep roses because they kept dogs out in the yard... no dogs now... Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteIt has been rare for a deer to do anything but lightly browse on my roses. Unfortunately, they love the tender new growth best ... including flower buds. That's more of a problem in the spring, tho. My mom only had a few roses. She uses deer repellent spray on them and says that it works really well.
DeleteWe have seen quite a few deer here this Fall. I hope you can fully protect your roses from them. I think they are delicate, beautiful animals but they can destroy crops and new growth, too. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThe little metal cages are to protect the roses from rabbits, too. Once the plants get bigger, it's not as much of a problem. Better safe than sorry.
DeleteMy niece has them two dozen at a time and they will eat out of your hand, which is rather scary to me, since they don't seem to have much fear of humans. Can't help wondering how many of those getting picked off quick during hunting season.
ReplyDeleteWe saw deer like that at the resort in WVa over the summer. Tame as housecats. The ones in the neighborhoods around here are more used to people because those people aren't a threat (no hunting in subdivisions) Here in the country, they're a lot more wary ... if they're not, they end up in someone's freezer.
DeleteI didn't see any this past season and the ticks were not bad like they have been in the past. I didn't have one tick this year. Pretty to look at from a distance but don't want them in my yard. Can be aggressive.
ReplyDeleteHope your roses survive them
Now that you mention it, ticks weren't so bad here either. I found a few early in the season, then none after that.
DeleteWe have plenty of deer here too, but like in your garden they have not seriously harmed my roses. Never seen so many fall fawns being born though, so maybe that portends a warm winter for us in the west!
ReplyDeleteFall fawns? We don't get those. Rut season is starting now, and fawns will be born in early spring.
DeleteI haven't seen any deer in my yard or the neighbors this year.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the middle of town and the last few years we've had regular visits.
Last year there was a mom and two babies.
It was so lovely and magical. They would come close to me as I gardened.
Then it was just one little fawn who kept showing up.
I was so worried about whether she was lost or if something had happened to the others.
Then one morning she was found in the road, apparently hit by a car.
It might sound silly but I felt as though my heart was broken.
I was depressed for days.
(Sorry for such a downer story.)
xoxoxo