Even the Marigolds have surrendered!

At least two pounds of tomatos off my last plant --all the figs--- the sundrop -- and a bunch else gone when we got home from vacation---- That's ok, I expected no less...... but the marigolds!!!?? I thought for sure the deer would not touch. Aren't marigolds planted around plants that we hope to protect from the critters? Every single flowerhead is nipped off.

Oh, that is why I haven't had any damage the past week or so.

I had some pretty extreme damage this year and I got out the big guns. For one, I carefully blended a pint of habanero peppers,the hottest there are, with a quart of water then strained and diluted it with more water and a bit of oil so it would stick. I sprayed that every night for a week. Then I discovered a couple of giant size bottles of cinnamon in the freezer (left over from a christmas ornament project with the grand kids) and I sprinkled that around. Deer seem to hate strong smelling stuff and the cinnamon stays ptent even after a rain.

I thought all that was working but now I find out they have just gone to your place.

Yeah, but I am back home now...... I'll tell those devious buggers that you are missing their sweet selves.

I was in your lovely Charleston. Can't tell the economy is bad ---not from the crowds in Charleston. Well, now that I think about it, the shops were full but I can't say if there were a lot of actual purchases. The restaurants were hopping however and money definitely being spent on meals.

Ahhh .. so Alice, you were the one giving out maps and box lunches to the deer! I lost all respect for the supposed repelling power of marigolds when bugs actually ate mine.

X

Maps, box lunches and spending money!

I counted on those marigolds......everyone keeps mentioning how successful they are as repelents and so I didn't think to question.

I see where one of the bird baths is knocked over this morning and the odontonema next to it has been "pruned". Guess they have come home. It has been so disheartening this year.

They never bother the salvias or agastaches or any plants around them for that matter, so adding plenty of highly scented plants may be my final stagedy. I am so sick of having an ugly, chewed up, garden.

Well you might go to plant files and look for any plants that have foetida in their species name! Lol.

X

Then I wouldn't like the garden either. LOL

That's why I grow shasta daisy. It is 'something' that looks pretty (for a short while) and then I hate it!!
But so do the deer. There is a new shredded flowerhead shasta that is pretty. Ditto bee balm...great in bloom and not so much after.