Is worth a thousand words, but unfortunately, I don’t have one.
But I have to share this with you. Emmie (or Lulu, take your pick), one of the two yearling does that has been living behind our house, nibbling on the septic field, and RAVASHING my plants every once in a while, paid us an up close and personal visit tonight.
Kallie and I were eating dinner, watching the birds outside eat their dinner and commenting on the occasional hummer. When all of a sudden, Emmie stepped gingerly up to the bird bath, tipped her head and took a long, slow drink. She stood there for a good 10 minutes. We quit eating, quit moving, quit talking, because she was watching us inside the house. We avoided eye contact, even, because, as I told Kallie, she needs that drink and we don’t want to scare her off.
After she wandered off into the woods and even before I’d finished my dinner, I quietly went outside to fill 4 birdbaths to the brim and fill the big metal dog water bowl I’d placed in the woods for the animals. No more signs of her this evening.
This was so amazing, because it was hot, full, sunny daylight and she was so close to our world. It lets you know how much they are suffering.
Annie’s comment to my post last night put my heart back in the right place. If they need some juicy plants to eat, they can have mine for a while.
Beautiful post….no photos needed the images I have in my head are enough…gail
I know exactly what you are talking about. We are pestered by deer also but when we see the little fauns following along behind them, it is hard to run them off.
Sometimes I grab a coffee can full of sunflower seeds that we use for the bird feeders and toss them on the ground for the deer, with the thought that they’ll accept the offering and move on. A lot of people around here buy the bags of deer corn, but I think you are just attracting more of them when you start that.
With regard to what you were saying about the grass on the septic field, it has been my experience that deer really don’t much like to eat grass. They will eat it if there is nothing else, but they prefer the young tender growth. So mowing the grass may make it more attractive to them.
You described that magical moment so well that you don’t even need a photo, Diana. I’m glad your daughter got to experience it with you.
I still wouldn’t want them eating my plants though. 😉
Deer are leaf browsers and nut crunchers rather than grass grazers, and for such large animals they sure are jumpy. In 5 years at the other house I managed to get 3 blurry photos.
I can’t say I miss them, but the picture you painted for us was both compelling and sweet, Diana.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
Gail – thanks. It really was a precious sight. Happy to share it.
Bill – they do tug at your heartstrings sometimes, don’t they? They sometimes come and tip our hanging bird feeders so the seed pours into their mouth! So fun to watch. And they do like to graze on our septic – but it’s wild stuff, not true grass, so maybe there is something yummy in the mix.
Pam – Well, if I had my druthers, I wouldn’t have them eating all my hard work. But, I think I am smart enough to know when I am beaten, for now at least!
Annie – I know how jumpy they are. That’s why I didn’t even try to get up and retrieve the camera. I would have missed the moment and never gotten a picture anyway!
What a marvelous experience to share with your daughter.
Lisa – it was so cool. She loves nature – everything from wildflowers to the animals and roly polies!