These Plants are Resistant to Those Flower-Loving Deer

I admit to having a love-hate relationship with deer. Let’s face it, they are stunning creatures. Gazing into the large liquid brown eyes of a doe can make my heart melt.  And watching a spotted fawn traipsing behind mom on spindly legs… well, I’m sorry, but few things are cuter than that. However, like other Avon Lakers, my fascination with these graceful creatures is severely challenged when my pansies are plucked and my hostas are treated like an all-you-can-eat salad bar.

How, then, to reconcile my warring emotions? What’s a plant lover to do? While deer will eat pretty much anything if they’re hungry enough, I have learned to plant perennials in my front yard that are about as appealing to a deer as  Brussels sprouts are to a 5-year-old. Generally, deer tend to be pickier eaters when it comes to anything fuzzy, velvety or mint-scented, so choices like lamb’s ears, foxglove, iris, coneflowers, and catmint and bee balm (both in the mint family) tend to be left alone. If you Google “deer-resistant perennials,” you’ll find a wealth of information.

As to a favorite deer pig-out food? Well, everyone has their stories, but in my yard, it’s definitely the Annabelle hydrangeas. I enjoyed their magnificent snowball blooms for a few years until they were discovered. Now, their appearance is as eagerly anticipated in deerdom as the introduction of a new flavor of frozen custard at Fenik’s. Every year, they are gobbled down with gusto, no chocolate sprinkles or whipped cream necessary. This year, they will be replaced by viburnum, which I understand are about as appealing to deer as liver and onions are to me.