[oldtreehugginhippie]

The Deer ate all the plants we planted at the top of the hill. all was fine until then. So we went with container gardening on the deck. When we went to the dump, a farmer threw away 7 blue 20 galoon contaners. they were still in really good condition, just real dirty. they had been used for water troffs.

we have organic vegetable soil in them by miracle grow. and we have planted tomatoes, summer squash and canalope in them. My loofah sponges didn't make it. I had set them out on the deck to get a little sunshine and we had a freak sleet storm and it torn the last two I had up. the one that is out there is yeloow and the leaves torn to shreds. I don't think it will make it. I was in town when it happened or I would have rescued them.
\but the container garden is going well. we have had so much rain lately that we have only had to water once so far. but I know when we get into the summer and we get our drout going as usual, we will have o water enoough to make up for the easiness we are having now.

Looks like I will have to be content with a container garden on the deck. I couldn't believe all the work Gary and I went through to get those plants planted on that hill , just for the deer to eat them. I do have a nice batch of sunflowers coming up in the yard if the deer dont get them. I rased thm in the house from seed and transplanted outside. they are about a foot of more high now and I am sure I wont be able to keep the deer at bay for so long. but I am hopeful.

I put cages around my fig tree and a baby plum tree and they are coming back to life. the deer had all but killed them and there was nothing left of the fig tree but a tiny bit of green at the base, now I have lush green shoots coming up all over it from the ground level that are about 12 high now too. so now it is protected from the deer. I had to use a tomatoe cage so next year I will have to put some chicken wire around it so they can't get to it.

the deer killed off four of my fruit trees in the baby orchard. I had 13 and down to 9. the deer are very destructive to things around here. we are over populated with them in these hills. I am hoping for the deers sake they will extend hunting season next year or they will starve to death in the winter and that isa horrible way to go.

all the farmers gardens including my darling son in laws and his parents potatoes rotted in the ground this year from so much rain. I feel so bad for them to loose so much food. the potatoes are a huge crop for everyone. it isn't pretty with no potatoes. I wont be getting any either since they are the ones to supply me.

but things aren't that bad. everything in the containers are doing great. and their gardens are doing well now. just lost the potatoes. so it is not all gloom doom and dispare. I always say be thankful for what you do get out of our gardens no matter how much it is.