Re: Kalmia and deer
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Kalmia and deer
- From: C* P*
- Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 13:26:41 EST
In a message dated 2/18/00 1:06:54 PM Eastern Standard Time,
voltaire@ISLANDNET.COM writes:
<< Odd about deer eating all the kalmia leaves. My goat died in great
agony after eating only one mouthful - I was chasing her back into
her pen, and saw how much she ate as she ran past the bush. I guess
deer have a totally different digestive system.
Diane Whitehead, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada >>
The best known book on kalmia is by a U of Conn. writer ......... Jaynes. (
can't find it just now ) Many years before the electric fence some deer ate
about one half of a century old plant in my garden. It is the best plant in
my garden.
Author Jaynes explains how deer are able to eat kalmia and survive. Kalmia
are definitely not safe from deer. Kalmia are poison to other grazing
animals but deer are able to eat it when no other food is handy.
Kalmia browsed with no leaf surviving all die here. The deer repellent which
is wax based will remain most of the winter. It looks awful with grey
blotches all over the leaves but it is fairly effective. It is too expensive
plus is too much work to cover a large garden but two or three favorite
plants would be easy enough.
Claire Peplowski
East Nassau, NY z4
