deer Archives | Diana's Designs Austin

Hill country garden charm in the heart of San Antonio…

The last stop on our visit to San Antonio gardens was another xeric garden, filled with drought-tolerant plants, both soft and sculptural. You can come along on the first two gardens of tour with me to see Melody’s and Heather’s gardens here.

Then we toured the garden of Shirley, who blogs at Rock, Oak, Deer. I ‘d seen Shirley’s garden through her camera lens many times, yet when we arrived, I was surprised to find that she wasn’t gardening in the country, but in a suburban neighborhood. Her style and plant choices created an oasis that made the rest of the world seem far away.

Well-placed plants serve to let the grasses and yuccas and perennials all shine.

Shirley uses repetition in her garden to create a dramatic effect.

Definition draws the eye through the space.

In the back yard, the focus is on perennials and grasses. Her rustic shed with its cedar posts and porch make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. The arbor on the right is the entry for a deer-proof fence, protecting delicate plants and vegetables from the curious and hungry deer.

Leading to the shed, this circle garden is filled to the brim with flowing perennials and grasses.

Her unique rock garden design is home to a lovely collection of yuccas, cacti and agaves.

Rustic art and pots are scattered about to add interest throughout the garden.

The river rock path guides you around the plant-filled stock tank and circle garden to the shed.

Garden art on a rustic table is tucked away in the shade.

Whimsical elements make true garden art from a simple grapevine.

A collection of sweet somethings brighten up the front of the shed.

Because deer are frequent guests to the back yard, extra protection for new or special plants is a must. This rough cedar fence fits right into the landscape.

Up on the the large, shady deck, succulent planters adorn the windowsills.

All around the deck, pots and paraphernalia bring color to the shady spots.

Even the outdoor fireplace boasts a collection of perky little pots.

Since we’ve toured Austin gardens often with Shirley, it was a special treat to wander through her garden with her. The entire garden was intentional and peaceful. She’s clearly mastered the art of gardening with the rocks, oaks and deer that she writes about. Special thanks to Shirley and her husband for hosting us in your garden.

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:04-06:00October 26th, 2014|Agave, arbor, barrel cactus, Blog, cacti, deer, garden art, garden decor, grasses, paths, pots, Sharing Nature's Garden, succulents, xeric, yucca|0 Comments

Oh deer…the latest garden challenge…

As if late spring frosts, scorching heat, four summer vacation absences and dought weren’t enough. This morning I can add another garden challenge to my list: deer.

Oh, I know you’re thinking – “she’s always had deer, this is nothing new.” And you’d be right. BUT, the plants that were on the buffet last night are plants that have been in the ground since May or June. And the deer have been through – drinking from the fountain and leaving footprints often.

But last night they decided to expand their palate.

This was a lovely hibiscus. Now it’s a stem sculpture!

They didn’t belong to the clean plate club when they chowed down on this rock rose. See — they left just one so you could tell what it used to be.

These sun-tolerant coleus have been here for months. They’ve done great and they are at the deer entrance to my garden. I know they’ve passed by here many times on their way to the bird bath fountain and the bird feeders that they share with the birds.

Another chomped coleus, and to the right of it, they even nibbled on the dwarf variegated pittosporum. They’ve left this coleus alone all summer long.

And then they found the abutilon, which is only feet from the front door. They don’t normally sashay all the way up to the front door, but I guess they felt sociable last night.

Oh well. Not much to be done about it. Maybe I’ll do a little rain dance this afternoon so they have food in their own habitat.

What are the critters doing in your garden?

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:38:55-05:00August 31st, 2014|Blog, deer, Sharing Nature's Garden, wildlife|0 Comments

Cannas and Coneflowers…

Time flies when it’s gardening season. It’s already time for Garden Bloggers Bloom day, hosted each month on the 15th by Carol of May Dreams Gardens.

Many plants are coming into their own in the garden right now. Foliage is filling out and becoming lush and new blooms are popping out to surprise me every day.

Unless of course the deer eat them! In my new garden bed, the deer have tromped around, but only ate the potato vines. I deliberately planted the bed with plants that deer typically shun. Except, apparently for Klondyke Cosmos. I was so pleased with my idea – planting this tangerine orange wispy flower grown from seed next to a vibrant purple salvia and some Mexican Feather Grass. I went out this morning to capture a photo of this little vignette, only to find…no vignette. The two blooms that popped up yesterday had been eaten off. So, you will just have to imagine what I imagined when I planted it all.

The Purple Cone Flowers above are some of my very favorite summer bloomers, and this year I have dozens and dozens of volunteers coming up so I will be transplanting lots of them into other beds.

But, I didn’t let the deer spoil my day. Many other blooms in the garden were happy to pose for pictures today.

These photos are of my King Humbert Orange Cannas. I love the hot yellow and tangerine against the lime green leaves.

This is a Mexican Bird of Paradise Tree — perfect for our hot,dry weather. Mine gets next to no water (especially in this drought) and yet it still blooms like crazy all summer long.
These Blackfoot Daisies are tough as nails — even though they look so delicate.
Coral Trumpet Vine is taking over my fence and sprouting up in 3 different nearby beds. But it’s stunning all over the fence – if it would just mind its manners!
Verbena thrives in these warm, sunny days, and it’s making a beautiful purple velvet carpet in my new bed.
Some of the combinations I planned for the new front bed are starting to fill in and look like I intended them to. These yellow Zexmenia are bright and cheerful next to the hot pink Salvia Greggii.
These Shasta Daisies are bursting with blooms in the cutting garden. But I love seeing them there so much that I don’t want to cut them!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:40:07-05:00May 16th, 2011|Bird of Paradise, Blog, cannas, Coneflower, coral trumpet vine, deer, GBBD, Prairie Verbena, purples. salvia, salvia greggii, Sharing Nature's Garden, shasta daisy|0 Comments

In the line of fire…

I up with Pam of Digging to pass along some of my variegated ginger today, and our meeting place was, of course, a nursery! Barton Springs Nursery — ooohhhh. She was disciplined (and in a hurry) but I was bad and went on a little shopping trip.

I WAS trying to finish projects I have at home before our Labor Day party this weekend, but I was weak and succumbed.

I brought home a lot of vegetable transplants and some compost to amend my soil as it’s time for the fall garden here in Central Texas. Once home, I put them in my wagon and temporarily put them out in the sunny driveway.

It’s a good thing I’m observant and looked around after doing that, because lo and behold — 3 yearling does and a fawn were just down the garden path looking for some water and an afternoon snack!

I filled their water bowl while they watched from a distance. Look carefully beyond the edge of the wagon — see her watching me?

Then I promptly wheeled the portable veggie buffet back into the garage for safe keeping until the deer were gone.

Whew. I would have been steaming if I’d come out to close up this evening and found my wagon devoured!

Lucky me…

By Diana C. Kirby|2017-11-29T23:27:26-06:00September 2nd, 2010|Blog, deer, Sharing Nature's Garden, vegetable garden, vegetables|0 Comments

Come on over to critter country again!

I could have filmed a nature documentary here today.

First, my three friendly new deer visitors came looking for a late lunch and I gave them some water. This spring we have a Mama doe and two yearling bucks visiting regularly.

I went in the garage to get another saucer for some corn. Just as I was reaching for a tray, a Carolina wren flew out of the shelf, not more than a few inches from my hand!

I screamed (not uncommon for me here in critter-land), and realized she had just flown out of a nest right above my hand.

The wrens have been in and out of the garage lately, so I’ve been keeping it 1/2 closed, thinking I had deterred them before they started a nest.

HA!

(Remember, I am NOT in charge!)

There it was — a sweet little nest inside a blue and white pot, with 7 tiny speckled eggs in it.

I waited a while and checked again, and found the Mama burrowed deep down in the nest, covering her eggs and guarding them with her life.
It you look carefully, you can see her head at the bottom. I was trying not to disturb her too much, but I did get a better shot on my second try.
She’s really giving me the evil eye here!

I high-tailed it out of there, but not before putting a saucer with birdseed and water close by her when she has to be in the garage and can’t get out.

I’m going to leave the doors open when I am home, opened the windows for air, and will leave the doors cracked when I can, trying to make sure she is IN and not OUT, when the doors have to be closed for a long time.

I thought about slowly moving it outside the garage, a few feet at a time, but there are two very predatory cats next door, so I couldn’t get them to a safe enough height.
Here are our little deer friends. This little buck is quite plucky – he gets really close to me and once even acted like he was coming to me. He’s clearly young!

This is their Mama, who’s always with them and keeping an eye out while they much. They have eaten on a few of my smaller or newly blooming plants, normally left alone. I think they are really hungry and too young to have a very sophisticated palate yet. Oh, heck, who knows why!

Oh, yes, and while I was taking pictures of the birds and moved on to the deer, a Texas horny toad lizard shot out between my feet!

I should be charging rent! Or filming for some reality show!

By Diana C. Kirby|2016-04-14T02:42:31-05:00June 8th, 2010|baby birds, Blog, bucks, deer, doe, eggs, Sharing Nature's Garden, wrens|0 Comments

Surprise!

Imagine my delight when I walked outside yesterday and found that Miss Phoebe Hellebore is getting ready to herald her arrival! I love the delicate contrast of her soft petals and whisper pink color against the harsh winter surroundings. She clearly hasn’t minded this wicked winter.
Her cousins haven’t fared quite as well. These two Hellebores, purchased this year to join Miss Phoebe, were apparently yummy deer food at some point in the last few weeks. (Yes, they are supposed to be deer-resistant, but we all know what that means — nothing!)
They ate one plant down to the nubbins, but they’re both still green at the base, so I am assuming they will return in their own good time. (If someone doesn’t snack on them again, that is.)