Kill The Deer

This image taken from Iselli Nurseries which developed and sells this highly desirable little shrub.

I was taking a little stroll with the pup around the garden after dinner when I stopped for a good look at my Whipcord Thuja. It looked a little funny- like all its branches were bent down to the ground. Mind you it is a very slow grower and only started off as a 1 1/2 foot ball about 5 years ago, but it was looking particularly small. Closer inspection showed that not only were those branches bent to the ground but they were severed and actually laying on the ground. Its thin delicate bark was stripped from its cord like branches.

After a fleeting feeling of loss, my mind turned immediately to revenge. Kill the deer. Now.

A Day In The Life Of My Garden, October 25, 2008

After a very long week at work I had a beautiful late October morning to tend to my garden. It as overcast but in the 50's.. which to me is very desirable. The colors are especially stunning when it is overcast- like the boyfriend's Brussels sprouts- grown for my personal delectation.

I whacked back a lot of things. Woody things like asters, Baptisia, and shrub hydrangea made their way to the dumping grounds ...over the edge of a banking. Good stuff like sedum, day lily & hosta were carted to my compost pile for future reference.


I was specially pleased to see small sedum sproutlets when I whacked the Ruby Glow Sedum .... signs of Spring and it is only October! Hope springs eternal.

The whole garden scene is reminiscent of Spring when the garden was so barren, but these are all plants being put to bed- clipped to their minimum. A few things are saved because of their greenness... so difficult to resist.

But the Peach Tree is stunning.. ruby branches and brightly colored leaves. The boyfriend persists in trying to grow fruit despite our poor soil. I am thankful- we had some juicilishess nectarines this year.

With all the trimming this thuja stands out like a solar flare in my garden .... thank goodness for evergreens in the drab months.