Armed with a deer and drought resistant plant list and conversation with nursery professionals (who may have been thinking about job security?), I brought home barberry and thorny rose bushes with a side of lavender. I planted carefully and watered faithfully. I splurged on Bleeding Heart hanging beauties for my front porch. I was feeling proud until........
"I think I have a bird building a nest in that plant," I thought aloud as an eager robin arrived ready to start a family. I placed the lovely hanging plant on the floor noting the its neighboring plant also possessed a nest in progress. In the past, I have let families live rent free, decorating my porch with by-products of their primitive plumbing systems, but this time I added foil to the center of each plant and hid the beauties under chairs and then.....
I noticed the brown-gray blob in the garden carefully decapitating the baby roses from their thorny bases, proud of his eating prowess. I got up close and personal until he scampered off, clearly annoyed at me. I realized the lavender was gone and most of that carefully spread mulch was in in the lawn. I did my best to rake things back until.....
I noticed the mother bird heading under the chair finishing her nest and decided to just move those Bleeding Heart into the yard for the birds and deer to enjoy along with the rest of the deer-resistant but clearly delicious plants! If you can't beat them, someone might as well enjoy them!
8 comments:
Anita, my bleeding heart died last year and now you make me want another one. But I hear they don't grow well in the Georgia heat in the zone where I live. That is gorgeous, my friend! So beautiful. And though the plants are pretty, the deer and the birds coming to entertain with their antics is such a thing of beauty, too. Be like Marie Antoinette of the cake and just say, "Let them eat roses!" It would be hard to stop them. I love that you are sharing the pictures so we can see too!
The joys of nature. I love your final decision to let the animals and birds enjoy what you clearly bought just for them. One year we planted some bulbs hoping for a colorful spring. Somehow the squirrels found them and decided they made pretty tasty eating. Glad they enjoyed our buffet. arjeha
What a relatable "Slice of Life," Anita. It’s funny how we spend so much time consulting "deer-resistant" lists only for the local wildlife to treat our gardens like a five-star buffet anyway. I wrote a children's picture book manuscript about a peach tree and a variety of animals devouring it (based on lived experience). It never quite came together, though.
Anita,
I’m so sorry the birds adopted your gorgeous bleeding hearts. You are a kind landlord to these little squatters. We have only had one porch nest in 28 years. I’m sure our cat Luna is why. We go, however, have found-stealing squirrels in our trees. My husband is out erecting a (we hope) squirrel-proof video bird feeder. Time will tell.
Anita,
Thanks for making me laugh several times--"nursery professionals (who may have been thinking about job security?), " Love your acts of kindness to the dear and birds, unintentional and intentional. Hope you enjoy their presence as much as they are enjoying your plants.
Anita, this is so fun! I didn't know there were deer-resistant plants that deer still eat. I guess it's better to let someone enjoy them. This made me crack up so much; I've never seen bird poop described so poetically: "decorating my porch with by-products of their primitive plumbing systems" Fun post!
Your ending is just perfect! Nature has a way of making itself right at home. I could envision you going back and forth from the birds to the deer as they enjoyed your lovely plants.
I know that you decided to let them have it! It’s like how I decided not to be mad at the squirrels and chipmunks eating the bird food… instead I just marvel at the little woodland scene out my window!
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