Deer vs. Gardener Scorecard: It seems that deer prefer leaves, buds, or flowers of different plants and for sure they do not really care if the plant is labeled “deer resistant.” My “rare” wild tulips were marked deer resistant. BUT, in the early spring, when they were only four inches high, all the leaves went […]
What Grew? Here comes Summer! For gardeners, it is about mid-season and time to check our “land use.” What is out there making good use of our little composted garden plots, stolen back from the great sea of sand and teeth of the deer that dominate our shores? What is struggling and needs more tender […]
Beat the Deer: The deer and I are in a face-off, and my garden stands in the balance. I have been preparing for this for some time. I left my beautiful 15+-year garden in Renton behind for the sandy perch on Lake Menard, which is now my home. Today, I am at the same place […]
Meet the Deer: Ocean Shores deer are legendary. They are a frustration not only to gardeners, but to anyone who drives around here. But there is, no denying that they are beautiful, and a unique addition to our town. Who isn’t charmed by those little spotted Bimbi’s, who just happen to be the worst offenders? […]
Come Visit Ocean Shores’ Community Garden: As anyone who has tried to coax a flower to bloom or a tomato to ripen in Ocean Shores knows, we have a difficult climate for gardeners. We average 75 inches of precipitation a year (that’s twice what Seattle gets!) with just three inches falling in July and August […]
Barberry vs Bayberry: Barberry and Bayberry are both great shrubs to plant in Ocean Shores. Both prefer the cool, wet coastal climate we have, and both are strongly deer resistant. Both survive well in nutrient poor sandy soils and are considerably salt tolerant. They have similar names, thrive in similar growing conditions, and seem to […]