I had some leftover mixed lily bulbs that someone had given to me. They weren't stored very well, but I figured what the heck and popped them into a corner of the bed. I was pleasantly surprised when they peeked out and even more so when they began to grow with glossy green beauty.
Today I took a closer look, and my jaw dropped when I saw that nearly all the stalks were headless! Yep... some hideous creature ate the buds clean off the tops. What on earth did that? Deer? Squirrels (usually they just bug the bulbs)? We have a million chipmunks as of late, and they've been driving me nuts with all the digging they're doing, but I didn't think that flower buds were on the menu.
Most frustrating. Thankfully I didn't pay for the flowers. ;)
The horror!
I bet it is a rabbit, they love the buds
How disapointing.Liquid Fence spray is supposed to keep deer and rabbits away.
So does Bonide Shotgun Deer and Rabbit Repellent. Using it this year, I am virtually nibbleless (is that a word?)
And I'm sorry - it is very frustrating.
If it works for you go-for-it.
I have to switch deer repellants every few months,they get used to the smell and just take what they want.
I am posting this rant on the Horrer thread because that is what Lollipop Lilies are to me.
I had 3 trumpet lilies in a collection from B&D lilies.Planted 3 years ago 1 was tru the other 2 were not but I kept the yellow and melon colored ones because they went well together.Last fall I ordered Midnight a deep purple to go with the golds and melon.
The 3 came up and I watched to see they didnt get shaded out by the OP's in front.
As they developed I noticed leaves on 1 were different.Sure enough this AM it bloomked"Lollipop" the curse of my life.I couldnt believe such a cruel joke.
I just checked the invoice and TLG.She added a note saying price changes on some bulbs in my order so she added extra bulbs.She must have added Lollipops.I have no luck with that.
She meant well and didnt have any idea I detested the plant so much.
Jokes on me.
This message was edited Jun 17, 2010 6:11 AM
I've never understood why a deer will eat two dozen stargazer lilies ($3-4 per bulb) and totally ignore a hundred Asiatics ($1 or less per bulb) in the same bed. Do they give off different scents. I have mixed up a concoction consisting of eggs,milk,hot sauce, dish detergent and water and sprayed all my other lilies and so far the deer have not returned. This may be a coincidence and they may be raiding someone else's flowers for now. My fingers are crossed as I have tried so many deterrents with little success.
I use Liquid Fence and alternate with Repells-all.
I am not fond of Repells because it builds up a gooie slug when not in use ,so the pump has to be emptied and cleaned after use or it cloggs the sprayer.
Deer will take another route when they encounter a unfamiliar smell.The repellents keep them off of stuff but nothing is 100% We can only do the best we can.
Here is whats blooming here these days.
http://picasaweb.google.com/jgentle4/GardenJune172010
We have deer all around, but they don't bother anything in my garden. Now the rabbits on the other hand....Last night I went out and a teeny tiny baby bunny was chomping on the iris leaves. I asked her or him what he was doing, and it came running towrds me, got about two feet away and stopped and sat there looking at me.
Release the Krahhken.That baby would be Pffernoose in a minute.
Our cat hunts them.Wish she could take down deer too.
Love Harryhausen. And Laurence Olivier yelling that was a hoot! Ge, you are SUCH fun!
Isn't she!
That darn baby bunny is so cute though.
Although I don't wish this type of violence on anyone's plants, it is comforting to know I'm not alone. The ultimate frustration is that once the buds are gone on bulbs, that's it for the season. A bunch of my daylily buds seem to have met the same fate as my lilies, but at least they have a chance at further bloom.
Now my coneflower leaves seem to be on the menu as well. I've just applied every bit of repellent I could scrounge up until I can make it to the store this weekend, so my fingers are crossed for avoiding further damage.
Knock on wood, my orienpet bulbs seem OK. Maybe they're just up too high for the culprits to reach. Of course I just jinxed myself, right? ;)
Psudan, I know what you mean. It almost seems like the local wildlife seek out ornamentals, or even the BEST ornamentals, on purpose. Deep down I know it's not out of some cruel animal sense of humor... but I can't help but wonder.
Oh, believe me, you're in good company. Does baby bunny chew the 8.00 iris or the 35.00 first? Guess.
As I posted on the wildlife gardening forum recently, I've tried many deer deterrents with so little results that I'm at the point of saying .."Why bother?" There is virtually no deer-like habitat in our area ,yet I don't know how many times I've archery hunted all day in PA. without seeing a deer, only to come home and find 3 to 6 standing in my yard. In the last 20-25 years I have had six deer-vehicle collisions but only one in a "deery" area. Only two of the collisions caused enough damage to make a claim or else I'd probably be forced to find another insurance company.
I am so thankfull I dont have many deer.They do LOVE Daylily buds
I clearly remember the year we returned from Maine and the next morning the ground was filled with daylily buds. It went on daily. They either ate or knocked off over 19,000 buds. It's a heartache.
We have more bunnies this year than ever before but less damage. They do love clover and we have more than enough to share it with them.
Talk about picking the expensive plant! Or the rare one. I got my clutches on a trio of Longidragons from B&D Lilies. It is a cross between Black Dragon (hard to find itself) and an Easter lily. Only 3 feet tall. Powerful stems. Stunning. B&D lost most of theirs to a bad vole year. Here is what they look like:
http://bdlilies.com/l5060.html
So the voles took out all three. Every time a little bulblet appears it's caught under a tree root or some other such thing until it gets big enough for a rabbit to bite it off! When I finally got a bilblet and put it in a pot I failed to notice that the chipmunks dug around in it (forgot to add Milorganite to the pot to repell them) until the bulb dried out and died.
AAARRRRGGGG!
Thats gardening the hard way.
They're ganging up on you. Bad critters!
What a heartache!
And naturally, Longidragon is unavailable anywhere.
Thanks Pirl, Polly and GE. Who else would tolerate my kvetching?
We have the right to kvetch!