Someone stole my iris!

I'm so mad I could spit!

I have a portion of my veggie garden where I have been keeping plants until I got all the beds and landscaping done around the new house. This holding bed has been there for 2 years and I have lots of neat things in there awaiting a new place or proper transplanting time. It's quite a distance from the house, and we only have one neighbor across the bushes that would even know about that garden.

I have been anxiously awaiting my Iris "Superstition" to bloom. I knew it was getting close. Today I went down there, camera in hand, and found that someone had very neatly cut off the blossom!!! I almost cried I was so upset. I have lots of other iris down there too, so now I'm worried about all of them.

So, I thought that Iris shouldn't be moved when they were blooming or have not yet bloomed, and I read that July, August and September are the best months to move them. After this, I wanna move them all now! What would happen if I moved them now? Would they die or just not bloom this year and maybe next year? July is only a month away, but I would love to bring them up closer to the house so I can keep a better eye on them now that I know there's a scissor happy thief in the country. And, we DO live in the country, not in town.

Thanks for any advise you can offer.

Joan, sorry to hear of your loss. That stinks (to put it politely).

As for me, I've moved Iris anytime I've felt the need, even when flowering. They don't die. Just remember, as in all plants, be sure to not disturb the root system. (Even if they were dormant you wouldn't do that, so go about it as you like.)

HOwever! If you choose to leave them where they are until you feel more comfortable with moving them, why not put your computer to work? Simply print up a "danger" sign and place it in your holding bed. I can see it now:

HALT! Government employees only! Quarantined area!
{according to DG code 6-2, paragraph 1}
The plant matter in this area possibly contains the potential to be highly contagious. Anyone having any contact with said plants should immediatly seek a health official. It is VITAL you inform said health official of possible contamination regarding the 'R2D2 syndrome' for proper medication. (Symptoms may range from un-easiness, feelings of guilt, extreme perspiring, to heart beating.)
CONTACT YOUR NEAREST NEIGHBOR FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE NEAREST MEDICAL FACILITY.

ô¿ô That should do the trick, eh? ;>)

LOL Shoe, I think I will do that. What you wrote is an absolute classic! DH is laughing himself silly here, reading over my shoulder. He likes the idea too, and he's the sheriff, so I guess it's okay to do. At least until I get everything moved out of there. Mind if I use what you wrote?

Thanks for the info on moving the iris. I think I will start moving them in closer to the house right away. Gotta finish up that bed asap now. I'll try to take all the root and all the surrounding soil too. Do you think they will bloom next year? I really did want to see that iris bloom.

HAH!...nice to see you DH laffing so hard! (I am too!)
I remember ya'll were in public office (hence the "government employees"...that means YOU!)

Giggling here! Feel free to use any thing above! And add to it if you like!
Luv ya! ô¿ô

How far from your house is the garden? Do you think
they came at night? If so,maybe you could use the
old string and tin cans method. Something they would
catch on their ankles and make lots of noise.
I did that once trying to catch a plant burglar.
I ran the wire inside the house with a cow bell
attached. A light weight bell. It rang in the middle
of the night. Hubby stepped out and shot off the
44 black powder pistal,"just powder charge in it"
But it sounds like a cannon.lol. They didn't come
back.

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 3rd 12:06 PM

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 3rd 12:08 PM

Thanks Bitty. This garden is probably 100 yards from the house at least. It's a fair jaunt. My luck, around here we'd have deer, rabbits, cats and dogs all tripping the thing and we'd never get any sleep. LOL

I'm pretty sure that there's only one person that could even know that this is there, or even care, and she only has to peek through the bushes on a daily basis to see it. Our places are less than 1/2 mile apart. I'm going to make up the sign, laminate it, and put it in there. This will be a hoot. Gotta remember to take pics too, but I can't show them here until I get that holding bed/garden weeded. It's in dire need.

It's terrible that the neighbor would do that, surely she knows that you're probably like the rest of us and if she'd asked she could have had the iris? Or at least some bulbs the next time you go to move it. Some people just have no class. I love the idea of the sign! Can't wait to see how it goes! Will be awaiting your pics, Tracy. Bitty1 - would've loved to have seen a pic of their faces when the "canon" went off!
Just a thought, if you have an electric fence charger you could put a low line across where the neigbor would touch it if she went to cross the yard to get to your iris again, make sure it's the kind with a pulsing current you don't want to reaaaalllly hurt the neighbor

Unless you have had problems with your neighbor before, it is possible that she did not have any idea your flower was stolen. Especially if she has children or had visitors with children.

When I was a kid (that was day before yesterday) We visited my Aunt in the country. While out exploring I went through a hedge and picked a whole bouquet of lovely flowers and took them to the car to give to my Mother later as a suprise. When I gave them to her she assumed they were from my aunt's garden and that I had asked permission. It was not until a few weeks later that my Aunt called and was telling my Mom about the theft of some flowers her neighbor was babying to show at the fair that Mom put two and two together. As I recall, I ended up red bottomed and my poor mother was red faced when we drove all the way back over so I could apologize.

But a big ole sign with a warning on it would have probably stopped me from picking them in the first place....and Shoe's sign would have sent me back through that hedge in quick time! LOL

I don't want to shock the lady either. She's kinda elderly and I'm not sure how good her health is.

I can't imagine why she would have done this. She could have just called and I'd have found her one somehow. Mine is only a year old and not ready to divide, but I would have gotten one for her somewhere. I'm thinking that maybe she just wanted the bloom for something? If that's the case, if she would have asked, I'd have given it to her. At least I would have gotten to see it first.

I've racked my brain trying to figure out who else knew about this garden, but I don't normally take people down there because it's not a pretty garden at all and the things in there are babies and just waiting for a permanent place to call home.

Oh well.

Are you sure it was 'cut' and not 'bitten' off?

Shocking probably not a good idea under those conditions, besides she might trip on the wire or something like that, I was thinking of my own neighbor who isn't at all elderly only onery. Sounds like eco or zany probably have the right of it, can't imagine your neighbor coming over after the iris without saying anything to you about it. Either one of their scenarios makes more sense. Tracy

I was wondering the same thing ecobioangie, got any deer roaming around there or other critters that would have munched it?
I love the sign idea anyway, just in case of more intruders, which hopefully won't be the case.

I guess it's possible it was bitten off, if they could bite it off cleanly with a slanted cut. Do deer eat iris? I've not had any problems with that yet.

Deer will eat anything ground level or up to the trees 8' being about their limit. Only thing I've heard they won't eat are marigolds.

Deer will eat anything ground level or up to the trees 8' being about their limit. Only thing I've heard they won't eat are marigolds.
Lilies and Deer
In all my research on "plants deer typically avoid I see no mention of my beloved lily bulbs. Before I invest in some for our new home here I wonder if you have had any experience. Found this posted on a forum for you.

According to my sources, deer will eat lilies. I must tell you that in our garden at the ocean, the deer did not touch the lilies, they completely passed them by. (They did, however, have many other plants to feast on!)

See Also: Plants that Deer Do Not Like

Here is the link -

http://www.humeseeds.com/sep97qa.htm

Do lilies taste like iris? I'm confused.

p.s. JoanJ - how are the av leaves?

I'll go look at the link haighr. I've not had deer eat any lilies and I've got quite a few daylilies and some oriental lilies.

ecobioangie, the leaves are not touched. The cut, or bite, is down low, almost where the bud stem starts, and cut at a slant like when you buy cut flowers. That's what gave me the first impression that it was cut off, not bitten. I didn't notice anything wrong with the leaves at all, and if I had not known that there was a bud before, I probably wouldn't even have known this happened.

Just a tidbit...a deer "bites" with its front teeth and then pulls back. This leaves a "shredded" look where the bite was taken, not a straight or angled cut. (Rabbits however, will indeed leave an angled cut. Hope that iris wasn't 4 ft off the ground or you may have some serious "BIG pesky wabbit" problems!)

Hmm...so the flower stalk was cut down low at a 45 degree angle? And no other evidence of destruction such as nibbled leaves or trampled plants? I'd say you've got a thief then. Sucks, 'cause now you are going to think differently about your neighbor without ever knowing if it was her or not.

Rabbits we do have, but I've not seen any really big ones. However, we have an old uranium mine not too far from us so maybe we have some that have morphed into teenage mutant ninja wabbits! LOL

The top of the bud was probably 12 inches from the ground, so a rabbit could probably reach that. He would have to knibble from the top down thought wouldn't he? That's a pretty long stalk to bite off in one bite.

joan you poor baby! I hate when im waiting for a flower and poof-i break it off or a kid steps on something or a rabbit or a deer eat it!!! GRRRRRRRRR

I havent had trouble with anyone stealing.knocking on wood!!!

I sent your box of fescue out a bit ago!
hope this one makes it!

Thanks Dori! I'll let you know when it comes. And, let me know about the postage too, whether the post office reimbursed you or not. I will pay for both shipments if not.

I didn't read the whole thread. This may have been posted. I'm thinking a deer did it. The deer will leave a clean break. Almost like some with prunners cut it. TRUST me, I caught the 'tail' end of the deer, just as he finished my fig tree. His teeth were MUCH sharper then my prunners. He did a great job, LOL....
I'm sorry about your iris.

they will leave hoove prints too-look for clues!!!!

Look for clues! Good suggestion notmartha! Get the Sherrif out there and make him investigate! LOL Being married to him should make your theft a top priority for him!

I wish I would have taken a picture yesterday before we had bucket loads of rain last night and today. It's probably too late to tell now. I guess I'll just tell myself it was an animal and be happy with that. I like that thought better. But, I'm still going to work on moving things out of there no matter what it is. I'm surprised my nice tender new lettuce and corn hasn't been touched though. Maybe it's too small yet.

Thanks for all the support and suggestions, but mostly for listing to my venting. I'm over it, and maybe that iris will put out a new blossom for me.

This message was edited Tuesday, Jun 3rd 2:53 PM

I'd go with the deer story, believe me they can be nasty with plants. After all a neighbor unless really malicious, wouldn't take one cutting, they would have taken the entire plant digging it up or something. A child at play would have grabbed and ripped it. The deer is my story and "I am sticking with it LOL"

I lust after Superstition, and to think you almost had a bloom to photograph, and were robbed of the opportunity, irks me, too.

As for what wildlife will eat, there are no reliable rules where the ones around here are concerned. My plain old orange daylilies had to be moved inside the fence after some varmint ate the pretty hybrids and then moved on to the plainer ones. I'm not sure what variety of guest was responsible, as the locusts are capable of taking down tall trees lately. Many of the things people use and are confident deer won't eat are stripped each year in my plantings. Only mint, salvia and lantana have been left untouched. Those lovely red yuccas? Supposed to be deer-proof. Forget that, mine is barely hanging on after constant nibbling. Esperanza? No way, they think it's salad time. Iron plant? I'm lucky they reseed, and I collect some seed, because something obviously loves the blooms, and this year the leaves are being chomped off as fast as they form. The insects even eat some of the leaves on Eve's necklace. I'm finding it very hard to keep a good feeling about the wildlife.

Joan, I agree with Shoe, I have moved iris almost anytime you can mention. You might skip a season if it was in early spring, but I think you can safely move them this year and might have fall blooms. Feed them well when you plant, using a good bulb food, and they should be just fine. And I do sympathize with you.

yep haighr, (Carmen, right), It was a deer, or a rabbit, and that's my story and I'm sticking with it! I think I'll go visit my neighbor lady this weekend and bring her some, some...I'll find something. I feel bad for thinking this of her when maybe she is totally innocent.

Aimee, as for what deer eat, I really don't care if a deer ate it, or a rabbit ate it. It's their world too and they can't go to the supermarket when they are hungry like I can. So, if that's the case, I just need to figure a way to provide them something delectible on the outskirts of our acres, so they get sidetracked before they get to the stuff I really like and want to save. That leaves me with some food for thought too.

And thank you and Shoe both for the info on moving the iris this time of year. I am willing to wait a year or so for more blooms, but I didn't want to kill them in the process of moving. I'm more comfortable with all that now.

Hugs and much love to all of you for your support and making me see another side of this situation.

So, now I'm wondering what I can sow, seed or plant around the perimeter of our property to make the deer and bunnies happy so they get sidetracked there first?

Joan

Darn...I wanted to see the sign you were gonna make up! :>)

The deer would like clover (so would the rabbits), and dear love cowpeas or soybeans, too. Course they also like daylillies and other high-priced plants!

You are so much nicer than I. It seems to me if I plant things they like, they will be attracted to the area and might decide to experiment with new foods. Actually, with all the acres of their preferred plants surrounding me, one would think they would stay in the wooded areas. No, they stroll right up to the fenced yard, helping themselves to ligustrum, pecans and whatever else is almost out of reach. There is ligustrum all over the pasture, courtesy of the flying gardeners, but it seems the deer want whatever is meant for landscaping. They're supposed to be shy, but you would never know it if you sat out on the steps for a short time and watched them promenading around the open areas. Oh, sure, if I make a different noise or slam a door, they will stop and look at me, but then they go back to nibbling. Or climbing trees to reach my grape vines, which are exactly the same as those all over the pasture. I tried the trick of hanging some hair on things to keep them from stripping some Rose of Sharon, and I suppose I need to import hair because mine didn't slow them down. Oddly enough, I see rabbits in the pasture, but they don't seem to bother the gardens.

Truthfully, I don't worry about what wildlife eats. I scold myself for not putting it out of their reach. I've even come to terms with the coons stealing my peaches every year. But this year I have a dandy crop of figs, and I am going to find it mighty difficult to remain peaceful if they rob me of those. Across the back road, there are several large fig trees, and every year they have all of those figs. No reason for them to steal mine.

Joan, you have a good heart. I'm curious to know what you will take your neighbor.

Joan honey, you are such a kind soul and you have such a loving and giving spirit. You had promised to give me one of these then I got one in Bleek's Iris co-op. It is so like you to be so forgiving. I am sorry you got denied the flower though. I am not trying to tease you. Since you got ripped out of the joy of your flower, I am sharing mine. Here is a Superstition flower purely for your enjoyment. Hugs!!!

Joan, Will keep fingers crossed for a huge bloom crop for next season. I have had bunnies munch off the buds of tulips and lilies that were over 2 feet high,(angle cut) they also stripped the barberry bush to nothing one winter( left a pile of thorns by a pile of bunnie boogles) I do remember feeling like my garden had been attacked by delinquents when my 10' tall willow was chopped down. The DNR man fingered the culprit--a beaver or muskrat. The tree grew back , but I was happiest to know that it was not a person like that, so close to the house. You take care of yourself and I will send good energy your way.

The only cure for night stealing invaders is a DOG!

Your gardening "buddy" will keep away deer, rabbits, voles, groundhogs, squirrels (Penny's #1 menace), and anything thing else that likes to raid your garden in the middle of the night!!!!!

Hi everyone!

I was wanting to see the sign too, Shoe, but I got over being upset and mad. So, on to plan B. Ü

I also think I'm not going to plant anything around for the deer. They have lots to eat in the CRP acres over the fence, and I don't want to entice them out of there and closer to my gardens. Now, the bunnies are another story. I'm not sure what to do about them, but I'll think of something.

Aimee, thanks for all your kind words. I fear that I'm not as kind as you think, because I was really really upset! I didn't even take the time to consider other causes, and now I feel real bad and guilty. So, I HAVE figured out what I'm going to take to my neighbor this weekend, when I invite myself for afternoon coffee. I got my co-op plants from Shirley1md today, and I ordered lots. So she is getting some hellebores and either one or two clematis. I was scoping out her house and she doesn't have a clematis, and she really does have a perfect place for one. I'll just tell her that I overordered and was wondering if she would be willing to give my extras a good home.

Michele, yep, that's the one I was gonna share with you. Thank you so much for sharing yours with me. I'm printing it out and will savor it.

Marcia, thank you for sending the good energy. I can use any type of energy available right now. I'm wearing down really fast and summer hasn't even really started yet.

Hugs,
Joan

Joan, So sorry to hear about your Iris! I enjoy all the critters around here but they really can be quite destructive. I can totally relate to how you feel because I had gotten some new varagated tall garden phlox last year ( Not as special as your Superstition Iris, But, They were something that I was really looking forward to ) and this year they were coming up beautifully, Along with my other plhox, That is untill ole woody woodchuck decided that he'd like to add them to his morning menu along with my asters! Looks like someone just came along and nicley clipped the tops off everything!!
I got a 'scarecrow' water deterrent and so far it's worked pretty good at keeping him from chomping the rest, Just wish I had gotten it sooner so I could have saved my plants from being de-headed from this 'mad muncher!' But there's always the bright side, There are many plants growing beautifully which help detere the anger of the ones that got chomped.
I hope all the rest your gardening plants grow beautifully for you and stay free from wildlife mishaps! ( Hug's Joan)

Iris, thank you so much. I really hate that something ate your plants too. I'm so sorry. I'm glad you found a way to deter him. How does that go? How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist. :) Now I'm going to be saying that little ditty over and over and over....until I lose my mind!

I do have other plants that are doing well and blooming, and I've been bitten by the rose bug. I've bought lots of roses this spring and I can't wait until they mature a bit and bloom their little heads off.

Hugs and I'm so glad to see you back on DG!

Joan

Joan, 'Your Quite Welcome!"
I think many of us have bug and animal misfortunes when it comes to plants. As for the 'Woodchuck could chuck wood~ I'll be thinking of that little ditty now everytime I look at the phlox! LOL!!
So happy to hear your other are doing well and blooming!
Roses, Roses, Roses, They can be so addictive!! LOL! Hope your's gets tons of blooms!!
" Hug's back at you Joan!" and I'm glad to be back! (I don't get much time here, But I do get here at least)

The best deer deterrent I've found is our cats. They potty in the gardens and the deer NEVER come near it. I think the deer believe they are mountain lions instead of little cats lol