We Won!

I declare us the winners this year! FINALLY! See, we have this little problem with varmints. We can't plant anything without deer, rabbits, chipmunks, raccoons, etc. digging it up or eating it. Two years ago, Dakota planted several tulip bulbs out front. We were anxious to see them come up and open. On the day we saw they were about to open, we went out for the morning and came home to find that they had all been mowed off. We think a deer got them. The second year, only two or three came up, because something started munching on them very early on. (A hungry rabbit?) But this year I see 8 lovely tulips out there in full bloom. Dakota found some pellets or something he sprinkled around the area, and it seems to have done the trick! It's nice that finally, after 3 years of waiting, we get to see the flowers that were planted way back when.

We were also able to see blooms on our Star Magnolia tree this year. Two years ago, during it's first bloom, those darn deer came and ate all the buds off of the tree. (The tulips were just an appetizer.) And that year our tree did not grow much. Last year and this, Dakota made a cage from chicken wire to put around the tree when it started budding. He took it off when the tree was covered in pretty white flowers. We wonder what we'll do next year when the cage will no longer fit around the tree. We don't want to give the deer any more free treats!