CULT: REB: Freezing temps, snow, rebloomers, and DEER!

>My rebloomers got blasted 2 or three weeks ago by frost. Maureen and
>Sandy  must be getting lucky over there in Ottawa because I just went
>and cut all emerging stalks off new additions REINCARNATION, NORTHWARD
>HO. BLUE MOONLIGHT, DOUBLE SHOT, ENGLISH COTTAGE and CANTINA because we
>got snow for Halloween and I've given up hope now :-(

Hey Chris,

It could be worse. Not only have we been having sub-freezing temps nearly 
every night, but we had a couple inches of snow a week ago.  None of that 
can come close to matching the unexpected and uncharacteristic 
devastation inflicted by the local deer population over the last week or 
two, though.  I've been so busy tending to the 24/7 needs of our 
geriatric 4-legged family, I haven't had time to check on the irises for 
a couple weeks.  When I finally got out there this week to see if any of 
my rebloom stalks still looked viable, I could have screamed!  The deer 
had swept through, biting off fans and stalks on nearly every iris, 
uprooting and/or loosening many of this summer's new additions, and 
stomping many more into the ground.  Deer potholes covered every square 
foot of every iris bed - even the rebloomer beds protected close to the 
house.  I don't know what caused the deer to attack my irises like this.  
The only other time I've had them even so much as taste the irises is in 
very early spring when they are near starvation after a severe winter and 
before their natural browse leafs out.  They've got plenty of graze still 
available out in the adjacent hayfields on which they indulge every 
night, so I just don't get it.

I've always absolutely dreaded deer hunting rifle season (which opened 
here today), but I'm almost glad to know the beasts will be driven into 
the deep woods for the next couple of weeks to give me time to try to 
rectify some of their damage.  I have now cut off every remaining iris 
leaf (on the new transplants) at ground level so they won't be able to 
grab and uproot any more, but of course this has put an absolute end to 
any possibility of additional rebloom (not that there was much chance 
given our winter-like weather, anyway).

Ah, the joys of living in the north woods.

Laurie


-----------------
laurief@paulbunyan.net
http://www.geocities.com/lfandjg/
zone 3b northern MN - clay soil


 

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