Deer Deterrent.... (where I live)

Char,

Sorry about the delay in answering.  You asked where I live.  I am in
central New Mexico se. of Belen

Here's a bit of a rundown of what the place is like.

It's an area some would call desert, but you might get by with calling it
grassland too.  There are a few Juniper "trees" (really big gnarly bushes),
and lots of scattered cactus, yucca, and beargrass (not the type from
Montana, but Nolina).  There's an arroyo through the yard with thickets
(about 4 ft tall) of Apache Plume and Three-leaf Sumac.

Soil is gravel, rock (granite) and clay, underlaid by caliche gravel, and
more gravel and rock under that.  Some of the property has a few inches of
what might be called top soil (sort of a dark red-brown), but just barely.

I am at the west base (about 6000 ft) of mountains that are sparsely wooded
with Juniper and scrub Oak down low and have Pine, Maple, Juniper, Oak,
Fir, Aspen, etc. up high (over 8500 ft).  I don't know why the deer don't
just stay on the other side of the mountains, where it rains more and there
is more water, and more to eat, but they don't. When it gets dry (which is
most of the time) they come down into my yard.  I've climbed up on the
mountain to look down, and the yard (about 5 acres is partially planted) is
like a little bright green spot in a sea of brown.  Guess the deer can see
it (or smell it?) too.

Temperature-wise, it is hot in summer (but cool at night), and mild in
winter.  Nearly always intensely sunny (except at night).  Always dry, but
most rain is in summer (about 8 inches a year - probably, but it's been
much drier than that since 1998 when we started building the house).  Windy
cannot be over stated.  It IS WINDY!.  I think 50% of the nights have wind
over 60 mph, year-round.  I seem to be on the edge of USDA Zone 7 and 8,
but it looks like time will show it to be 8a.  Most winters it has not
dropped below 14 F, but this last winter it went to single digits a couple
times.  Heat Zone, I'm not sure, but from late May to early September most
days are in the 90's with a few in the 100's and a few in the 80's.  Lows
in summer usually in the 60's, sometimes 70's or 50's, rarely colder or
warmer.  December/January, highs mostly in the 40's and 50's, lows mostly
in the teens and 20's, rarely hits 70 F, and rarely goes below 15 F.  First
frost is sometime in November (can be any time from early to late),
sometimes October.  Last frost can be any time from late February to mid
April (usually sometime in March).

The biggest problems for growing Iris depend on the type.  Most bearded
Iris thrive, but some of the ones that come from species such as I.
variegata tend to rot in the heat and clay if I'm not careful (that's where
the Pine mulch seems to be helping some).  Most Arils/arilbreds and most
TB's thrive, and love it.  The Spurias love it too.  SDB's survive without
any extra care, but bloom better if I water them regularly (which I rarely
do, they are planted out on a gravel slope far from the house).  Things
like Siberians, and Pacific Coast Natives are hopeless.  Most water Iris do
quite nicely (of course I have to supply water).  The biggest problem has
been wind shredding the flowers, and foliage, but animals and a ate freeze
(this year) have done their share of damage too.  If I build a tall wall
around the yard, it will be perfect for growing many Iris (then I won't be
able to see the mountains from the house though).

Of course I'm as stubborn as the weather and animals, and I'm slowly
winning.


Dave

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