The Fence . . .

We have fenced in most of our backyard but have a gap on one side by the driveway.  So we decided to complete the fencing in to control deer from eating every thing under the sun.

While the workman was working on installing the fence we had a doe with twin fawns in the back yard.  The fawns wanted to stay there and so mama allowed them to do so but stood guard over them any way.  She seemed aware of what the fence meant and even settled in over by one already fenced in area next to the neighbors swimming pool.  Even with people in the pool, she was content to stay next to the fence in that area.  She recognized she was protected and we were not bothering her.  And neither was the workman who patiently continue to install fence post and some of the fencing.

Today he will come out and finish the job and we will swing the gates closed.  If she is back there, she will be trapped.  I have seen an already a mature deer clear the five foot fence with ease.  The fawns simply squeeze through the fence.  The fence is black and looks like iron but is really aluminum painted back.  And the vertical bars are space about five or so inches apart.  And the fawns can get through that with ease.  So mama would have to go over the top and the babies will follow her out of the yard.

And the deer have been most proliferate this year.  A friend down the street said she counted 8 fawns in her yard the other day.  Another neighbor further down the street feeds them and has had upwards to 15 fawns in her back yard.  Her yard in on the route that goes over toward Lake Weatherford for water.  She also owns the vacant lot next to her and has a huge trash pile that the deer hide behind.  She calls it a habitat protector.

So today will be their last day to rule our back yard.  And we can free up the barriers on our patio that protect potted plants.  We screened in much of the patio and they can not get into that area but have torn the screen in a couple places testing the enclosure.  We can not plant other plants in the back now.  But with closure of the gates we will be able to start planting again.   We can have Day Lilies again.

Many of the plants supposedly the deer with not eat are not the answer.  We have found the deer will eat parsley and even chives if they are really hungry.  If it sticks up and does not have a strong aroma like Rosemary, they will eat it.  I have seen them eat Iris' and eve Lantana.  They will dine on Verbena at will.  Marigolds go in one big bite.  We have Confederate Rose or otherwise known as the Tree Rose of Sharon that they have dined up at will.  Yet they leave our neighbor's Confederate Rose alone and it is only 20 feet away from our yard!

Anyway the gates will swing closed shortly.