Re: Amer. Gardener article/Wild Greens

In a message dated 01/23/2004 6:12:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
mtalt@hort.net writes:

> Well, add to your list any of the Euphorbias.....they don't touch
> them and some ought to grow for you.  They also have never eaten my
> Mahonia nor do they touch Hellebores, so if you don't have those,
> they are something you can add to your garden:-)  I've also never had
> them eat any ferns and there are tons of lovely ferns available.
> 
> 

I haven't tried any of the Euphorbias outside (have a couple of cute 
succulent ones in pots).  You're right, they have never touched my Hellebores.  I lost 
a Mahonia some years ago before the deer became such a problem, and have 
never replaced it.  They nibble, but don't do much damage to the Leucothoe that 
took its place. One thing they never seem to bother is goldenrod, which I treat 
as a noxious weed in the flower beds.  Sometimes, when I am rooting it out and 
swearing at it, I wonder why.  Surprisingly, though, I have tried the 
cultivated varieties, "Fireworks," and "Golden Fleece" a couple of times and they 
didn't even last a season.  Another plant that has never had much damage is 
Santolina ericoides.  It is rather pungent, and they don't seem to like "smellies." 
 That's not a reliable rule, however, for they will eat tomatoes and 
marigolds which are quite sharp.  Also, they don't often browse groundcovers - just 
too lazy to bend down, I guess.  I have had a miniature rose growing below a 
path that runs along the top of a little ridge for years without any trouble - I 
think it's just below their vision.
I have a small bamboo - haven't a clue as to what species - I took it from 
the garden of a Japanese house (had been brought piece by piece from Japan in 
the 20s or 30s) that was being torn down to make way for a shopping center.  The 
bamboo must be one of the clumpers, because I have had it for 30 years and it 
hasn't spread.  Grows about 4' to 5' tall.  The deer have never touched so 
far as I have noticed.
Sometimes I can grow a plant for several years without any trouble, and then 
one day it will be gone.  I thought Pulmonaria were pretty safe, but last 
spring they took out a whole patch.

I'd love to send you  some pictures if I can get some nice ones this spring.  
My garden doesn't meet anybody's standards for an orderly landscape, but I do 
grow a bunch of interesting things, and "plant" people usually enjoy it.  A 
lot of it looks as if it just happened, which is the way I like it.
Auralie

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