Sally, I've been seeing so many butterflies here this year too. So many more than I have seen in previous years.

We too are seeing more butterflies in the garden this year. And rabbits!

I went to take some stuff out to the paper bin earlier, and there was momma doe and her two fawns dining on anything green in the yard... except the grass. She stood there while I chewed her out, tipped her head and moved to the back of the lot. I had to chase the lot of them out.

I'm about ready to give up. Between the squirrel, chipmunk and raccoon tearing everything up and the deer eating what's left,

grr..

I'm seeing holes that I can't explain. Maybe, entrance tunnels to moles? Or chipmunks or voles? Voles seemed to make hidden small holes,. CHipmunks seemes we only saw them around the house and sidewalk. These are larger and have exposed dirt around them, in a couple random places, not especially hidden.

A friend is having deer issues and trying the Irish Spring shavings. I don't want to be a spoiler and tell him it won't work. They even have a shepard mix dog, and the deer aren't intimidated.

thet're intimidated, but they are hungry

My coneflower and rose of Sharon have been very popular too. For some reason, something went awry with the milkweed along our road this year.

Also, I am never going to have Firecracker sedum it seems. I transplanted it and all was going well, then little bite marks showed up on the edges. Whatever had been chomping on it seemed to have moved on and it was gaining new growth really well. Then an entire hole showed up on the edge of the transplant and left me only one leaf!

Long ago my friend in Louisiana planted a lot of corn and she was going to harvest them. Her husband said, one more day, and the kernels are going to be a little bigger.
Well, the next day, there were not one single corn left---all eaten by the deer!--I think the animals think that there were there all this yummy goodies, so they should enjoy them----I saw one fat bunny rabbit--among my weeds, but the pure white bindweed blooms are still there, although I try to pull them out when I came home, but defiantly they are showing up, and shouted: we are still here!

Last I looked at parsley, few day ago? all there. Today, 4 massive caterpillars! I hope they have enough to eat. Monarchs also here.

sallyg said:
A friend is having deer issues and trying the Irish Spring shavings. I don't want to be a spoiler and tell him it won't work. They even have a shepard mix dog, and the deer aren't intimidated.

Been there. Done it. Didn't work.

I figured that. But I didn't want to crush her little beginner garden spirit. Luckily, they were able to enjoy a delicious cantalope this week!

http://mdinvasives.org/iotm/ju...

Just finished watering. Disturbed 6 giant mantids laying wait for butterflies coming to nectar.

well, well. what I always thought was a good mantis egg case, is not the native one. thanks for the link

I've tried using Miloganite to deter deer. As long as there is adequate forage elsewhere they avoid the areas I've broadcast the Miloganite. Reapplying every week is needed, but a bag can last a long time since you don't need a lot. I was told that deer hate the odor. I've even collected dog hair from a local groomer and it isn't as effective as Miloganite. Since Miloganite is such a low NPK value it will not burn foliage.

PS. Cantaloupe rinds make the best bait for groundhogs when used in a Havahart trap.

My little feral Shadow. He really likes catnip. He will follw me around the backyard while I pull weeds.

handsome dude!

Aww! so nice to have a garden kitty.

I did not realize one of our garden mantids was an invasive species. Good to know! I'll start picking off the "wrong kind" of egg cases.

I'm thinking of taking up hunting just to sit on the back patio and pick off the deer as they try to come in to the yard. Those 4-legged mowing machines have eaten ALL of the flower buds off of my hosta and 2/3rds of the leaves.

I am NOT a happy camper!

@RickM I have been thinking about buying a paintball gun, but I might only get colorful deer. They will still eat in my garden.

Are Carolina (native) mantids always brown? Trying to key in on which ones should be removed (5-6" ones, I'm going to start destroying)… best control is probably to look for the non-native egg cases, which seem easy to ID.

Cute bunny, Lisa. I tell ours, if they stick to eating clover, we can be friends.