Taking a Stand for Spring Flowers

Created on 5/8/2009

Winters are way too long here in Montana so I’m a big fan of spring bulbs. I’m doing a happy dance when the first tenacious crocus flowers emerge through the snow with their purple blossoms, and am beside myself when the tulips are finally blooming. It’s a shame the deer are, too. You can imagine my dismay when I go out to see the new blooms only to find bare stalks and uprooted plants since they’re not above pulling the plants completely out of the ground.

Thankfully, deer don’t like daffodils. Last year, I planted one-hundred bulbs outside the fence in front of the main garden that wraps around our patio. It’s southern exposure facing the street-side of the house, and I wanted something to brighten up the overall appearance because we’re still working on evolving the yard from the lunar landscape it was when we bought it two years ago to an Eden-like oasis.

I also planted irises in the same bed with the daffodils since they’re another option for those who live in areas with a healthy deer population. The dwarf irises typically bloom around the same time as the daffodils in early April. The tall-bearded irises Aunt Margie gave us will put on a show by the middle of June, which is ideal before the height of the summer blooms. But the nice thing about irises is they are super easy to grow, and most of all, the deer usually don’t eat them.

Since I’m a glutton for punishment, I opted for tulips interspersed with the others despite knowing I’ll have to fight the deer for them. They prolong the blooming season, are gorgeous, and are hard to resist in the fall even though I should know better.

One remedy that works for me is mixing a dozen eggs in a watering can with a gallon of water, and pouring them over the plants. It’s a gooey mess, but always does the trick. I have to re-pour the solution after a rain (or snow), but I usually can squeak out a couple of weeks between applications.

But I do realize there are parts of the country that aren’t in a continous drought and receive precipitation on a regular basis. For example, my family would go through a lot of eggs if they tried to do this back in Ohio. (It seems they’re always in the middle of a major rain event.) Plus, if you have kids you don’t want to have raw eggs where they might pick the flowers.

Another effective tool is the motion-triggered sprinkler called the “Scarecrow.” You hook it up to the garden hose and install a 9V battery. When the deer – or dog or you – come within range it’ll give a quick blast of water. The deer don’t seem to become accustomed to it. Actually, I never have either even though I know it’s there! I’m sure the neighbors wonder why they hear me scream on a regular basis. Since it’ll reach up to 35-feet, it’s a good way to keep deer out of a specific bed so you can enjoy the spring flowers while they last.