Garden tip of the day (Maybe a new feature everyone?)
This idea originated when I left flower stalks standing to provide winter hiding places for solitary bees, but it proved to be a great deer deterrent too. Instead of cutting perennial flower stalks to the ground in autumn, cut them off at varying lengths, from 6" - 18" high and leave them in the garden. Solitary bees, especially the tiny pollinators, will nest in them for winter protection (even here in Minnesota). In Spring, when the tiny, tender perennial plants are coming up, deer will be poked in the face by the stems when they try to nibble and go elsewhere for a meal.
Similarly, plant your tulips in the root zone of spreading shrubs that lose their leaves in Autumn. When they flower in Spring, the twigs and branches interfere with the deer being able to bite off the blooms. Seems to deter the pesky squirrels as well. This year, for the first time in years, I got to enjoy my tulips in bloom - where they were protected. For those still tempting Bambi out in the middle of the yard, I simply pushed a stick or twig in alongside, with the tip very near (1"-2") the emerging bloom. The only 2 blooms I lost were in a bed I didn't get to in time.
I saw yesterday that my friend's favorite hostas, which are waiting for her in my nursery bed, have emerged. Today they will get a thorough spray of deer repellent because they have no other protection.
By the way - I don't live in the country, but in a first-ring suburb of a city - but lots of parks, lakes, a long creek nearby, and wildlife abounds. I want to put a trail cam in my backyard to see exactly who visits...
Sue