No Favorites Today!

White Wood Aster

Back in the garden again this morning. That secretive Gray Cat Bird was back again. Alas, I did not have the camera out earlier this morning. I could hear the baby Red-Bellied Woodpeckers squawking for their breakfast but could not see them.

My titled post today, "No Favorites Today", refers to those pesky deer who have eaten almost every hosta and are now starting on the Blue Hydrangeas, White Wood Aster, Strawberry Hydrangea, and some of the Rudbeckia. 

Here is some of the evidence for your viewing pleasure! 

Or in my case, displeasure! 
 Luckily the Aster blooms in the fall and might stand a chance of a
comeback! They only took a few nibbles from the Oak Leaf
Hydrangea and left the blooms!

The French Hydrangea in the photo below was not as lucky! No blooms left on this one.

Blue French Hydrangea

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

 

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Lavender

So my husband was sent back to the store to buy some deer repellent! I used some last year that my mom had given me but have not been able to find the same product at a store close by. (Mom and her store are an hour away) So we are trying a different brand in hopes that the big blue Hosta, the ready to bloom lily buds, and the native azalea are not on the menu at the Deer Cafe tonight! This stuff is really stinky and after all, who wants to eat stinky food. Hopefully, Doris Doe and her brood feel the same way!! 

I, however, can not resist adding a few more favorite photos today and hopefully will be able to share some lovely lilies in a day or two. The bees were busy on the lavender this morning and I couldn't resist taking that photo. They will be all over the lavender for the rest of the summer! It's quite lovely! 

I am also enjoying the Oak Leaf Hydrangea Blooms! As mentioned in an earlier post, this is the first time for blooms and I have had this planted in the same spot for more than five years. I have one more that I have had for about the same number of years. It is doing very well, looks healthy, larger leaves but no blooms yet. You can be sure if it does I will write about it!

French Hydrangea

The blooms on the French Hydrangea are two of only a few left. The deer gobbled up some early buds but seem to have lost interest now that the remaining buds have bloomed. 

They have never bothered the Shasta Daisies but in the past, they have eaten every bud on the lilies that are planted with the daisies. I was in a hurry to spray repellent before they got to them this year! 

Lily Bud

Shasta Daisies

These Rudbeckia below have never been on their menu before this year. They only nibbled a few and have left the rest. I thought I had lost these from black spots on the leaves a few years ago. They completely died back and only a few came back each year after. The leaves continue to be covered in black spots but this year I have a mass of them again and they seem to be spreading. I'm sure the birds in the garden are helpful in that regard. They love the seeds!

Rudbeckia