Flowers vs Foliage

 

Deer ignoring American germander

The deer have been brutal to my flowers this year in the front yard. I have a few things blooming – a big St. John’s wort (Hypericum densiflorum), threadleaf mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium), American germander (Teucrium canadense), and the white wild indigo (Baptisia alba) are things in the front yard (the back area is fenced and blooms are safe there). Everything else in the front is clipped down to about 12 inches … but perhaps some of it will bloom when they get bored of it.

L-R: American lady, Spicebush swallowtail, Pipevine swallowtail

Yet in the midst of this, the butterflies have managed to find some host plants and lay eggs. I have seen caterpillars on my spicebush (Lindera benzoin), my pussytoes (Antennaria plantaginifolia), my pipevine (Aristolochia tomentosa), and my false indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa). I have a number of other host plants waiting for the adults to show up.

Normally I apply deer spray (Liquid Fence is my chosen brand) but the weather has been rainy or I’ve been out of town. I will step up my efforts again. In the meantime, I am grateful that my garden provides host plant services even when flowers are few.