So sorry, we wait months to see our babies and then the deer come.

We have been putting Milorganite on for a few weeks but finally gave in and put up a deer proof, we hope anyway, fence. It's not to pretty but necessary.

I feel your pain, Julia. Deer munched on all of mine and then moved on to other vegetation I suppose a couple of weeks ago. Lilies have rebounded well but I remember last year the deer returned to munch on buds. They are so prolific here that I almost always see three or four when I turn in the drive and that is with several neighborhood dogs.

I love the color of your crocus. Mine is a pale lavender that I often do not even notice.

I am so sorry about your plants, nasty deer! Would milorganite repel raccoons, or skunks? Something has been digging holes, I assume looking for bugs. I have seen a raccoon running under our deck, and DH came face to face with a skunk late one night. They have dug up a peony and a couple of daylilies. I replanted and no real damage, but some holes have been close to new plants, I won't be so forgiving.

Nancy, I dont think Milorganite will repel skunks or raccoons. We have a driveway camera and some nights it looks like an interstate highway and we Milorganite the daylilies pretty hard in that area.

Deer love the very early lily growth, but once the plants get taller, they lose interest until.... It might be wise to invest in some deer repellent so they get out of the habit. Tulips here require constant application.

jayd_ii: LOL, interstate highway is probably what ours looks like too.

I have to get the trail cam set back up and get another bag of milorganite since I used all I had yesterday. I think Debra or someone mentioned using Gain around the garden so I need to do some research on that.

I should have put the milorganite down as soon as I started to remove the dead foliage. Lesson learned...sadly.

After thought....if you use bone meal or fish fertilizer, raccoons will come. Not sure about skunks as they mostly dig for grubs.

So sorry the deer made a buffet from your emerging plants. I noticed some critter munched down half of my Spacecoast Ojo Rojo clump in the past few days. I also had destruction in the Red Bed again last winter with some burrowing animal that tunnelled right through the roots of Summer Celebration and Sweeten Creek. It probably ate the roots of other plants there too.

I kept the deer at bay last year with strips torn from Bounce sheets and a spray made from Gain fabric softener and water. I didn't start that until scapes emerged on the plants though. I need to get the rest of My Milorganite spread now, but it looks like rain for the next four days.

Julia, I have not used bone meal. Last spring when I got new plants I watered them in with water from my fish pond, so thought it was probably a raccoon and we saw one hanging around. Have not used it since. Too bad the milorganite, hoping he moves along. Have not seen any sign of him for a few days. Hope the deer stay away from your plants!

Julia,

I too am sorry that the deer have harmed your plants. It probably isn't deer hunting season, but if your husband or someone has a gun, perhaps they could shoot over their heads. They really do get gun shy. [my Dad was a big hunter, that's what he said].

Love the flower shots!

Ack ! OMG Julia ......that really sucks ! I hope that the deer move onto someone else's plants and leave yours alone . How frustrating and disheartening for you . I have also heard that Bounce dryer sheets keep lots of critters at bay . Also aluminum pie plates are supposed to make them jittery and stop them from hanging around .

Brad: our farmer neighbors are always shooting but the deer, I think, have become familiar to noise. This year they seem to be coming in more and not staying in the fields. Magic Of Oz was coming so beautifully with some many new fans.

I got some Liquid Fence along with milorganite yesterday. On and off rain most of the coming week.