Well for me it's been 2010 the year of the Hail, Wind, Nematode and Vole. The vole damage makes everything else look so trivial now. I could practically hug a slug at this point. The one thing I don't get is deer. For whatever reason the many deer around here have elected not to hop out fence- for now.

Just for you-
.
2012 Year of the
Hug a Slug

Paul

Paul, innerpeace is the word. This year I have come to realize that my gardens are too much for me to care for and it is a losing battle. The deer are helping themselves, and we enjoy seeing them. I have not bought any new hosta the last 2 years. I will do a cleanup and see what spring brings.

I have spent more time down at the lighthouse and hall with my grandchildren, going in the water, finding sand dollars and other shells. We drove in the yard the other day and there were 2 moms and 3 little ones. We just sat and watched. The wonder of nature.

Took the compost out and saw a deer watching me. Was going to check the garlic but decided it could wait.

Retired -- what's the rush -- enjoy while we can

Betty

Have a safe winter,frost has already got my hostas!I'll dream of spring,Judy

Thanks, Paul! I forgot to mention cutworms- terrible year for those here, too.

It is all a lot of work, and at times I do wish I had never picked up this hobby that is so obsessive. I've had a lot of moments this summer where I've just felt hopeless about it all. And I know I'll spend my entire winter stressing about the voles out there, eating away.

Sorry to hear about this Paul.
I guess, you can look at this as the deer doing the foliage removal for you, right?
I mean, if ya have nems, you're supposed to remove foliage in fall, right?

Trying to be positive!

I was so hoping it would be nice today so I could start the fall clean up process. It's gloomy and freezing. Maybe I should open the gates and let the deer come in! I could entice them with a bucket of birdfood - no shells They used to love that stuff when I put trays of it out.

Wait, deer are removing the leaves of your HVX and nematode infested hostas? Did they gargle, brush their teeth and wash their lips with disinfectants between hostas? If not, then they are spreading those terrible hosta problems all around your yard. At least they stomped the ground and by that made it real tough for the voles to get to the hosta roots!
Good luck!
Bernd

Well they say hope springs eternal..... so 2011...the year of the perfect gardens.

In the East:

2010, Year of the HEAT and DROUGHT

chris

Well so far I fear 2011 with be the 'Year of the Deer' - a group of 6 are terrorizing the neighborhood gardens. We starting up a fund to bring in the Seals on an Apache helicopter - we'll have to keep it on the hush-hush though since we'll have to fly into the neighbor's compound - he's been not so secretly putting out corn in a barrel. We're trying to protect his ability to declare deniability to his country 'estate' men.

Paul

Poison in the corn barrel?

oops, did I say that out loud?

I also have a gang of four does parading through my property at will, morning, afternoon, evening and night. I have been religiously spraying my home brew (eggs, tabasco sauce, garlic, soap) every two days and it is paying off big-time. So far I have lost only one tulip, and she spat it out nearby. My hostas are just beginning to emerge here in the north tundra and I continue to spray them as they grow to discourage the bunnies and deer from having hosta salad. One evening my front yard motion senser went off, and sure enough there was a doe in my front garden munching on crocus leaves - the one thing I hadn't sprayed because that's something they're not supposed to like.

I do find that I need to continue to be diligent all season long, although I back off to weekly by mid-June, or they take advantage of my slacking off. Let's just hope they don't acquire a taste of tobasco and eggs anytime soon . . .

I live in the middle of the city (1950's suburb). I have one neighbor who feeds the squirrels, so, I have corn growing all over my yard, plus they bury their extras in my hosta pots. The lady is old and enjoys watching them, so I hold my tongue. I don't bother to mention the rats she feeds while she's at it.

However, we have a real idiot a few doors down who feeds the possums and stray cats. Don't people have any sense? Don't they realize that they are helping these animals reproduce - that by feeding them we get more of them?

What area needs more squirrels, rats, possums, stray cats and deer? Besides cars, they have no natural enemies in the city.

I would think Minnesota would have a deer season. Mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with pork, venison makes good breakfast sausage. I've also eaten some really good venison summer sausage. Somehow, BBQ possum doesn't sound very appealing, though.

Bkay