OH DEER: Give them sunflowers

I've lived in Dalton Gardens since 2002. I lived in the snowbelt northeast of Rathdrum for 25 years. I'm a compulsive gardener and believe me, Dalton Gardens enables me to stay busy with my passion. In fact, I've won the Green Thumb Gardener award for Flowers (North Idaho Fair) for four years in a row. 

Guess what? I grow a whole lot in my unfenced front yard. Yes, the deer do browse through. I dug up my tulips last year and transplanted them into my fenced backyard. The deer have not once jumped the fence since we installed it two years ago. It helps having three Labrador retrievers in back.

People ask me how I grow so much with the deer around. I've discovered the deer love sunflowers so I just plant a bunch of them with everything else. The deer nibble the sunflowers and pretty much leave the rest alone. Try sunflowers, enjoy gardening and watching the deer. I think there are a few complainers but most of us enjoy looking at the deer.

LAURA CARY

Dalton Gardens