Oh Deer, My Poor Magnolia UPDATED Jan 2017

BY SKEETER

 

The first Magnolia tree here in my Georgia Gardens has been doing great this past year. Well, until now. Look what I woke up to this morning! 

Limbs stripped from the center down on my beloved Little Gem! 

My first thought was those darn squirrels. Upon closer examination, we do not think this damage is from a squirrel. The bark is too rubbed off the small trunk.

Odd scratches from the side of the trunk.

And this deep print in the dirt below, have us thinking on another course.

We have heard that male deer will rub their antlers on trees during rutting season. And the fact that we spotted this 10 point Buck (male deer) in our woods soon after examining our tree, leads us to believe we have solved the mystery.  OH DEER, MY POOR MAGNOLIA, In the Garden...

Note: I tried for a better pic of the Buck but he would not come out of the woods for a photo op. He was after a nearby Doe. Bet we have more babies next spring...

UPDATE: January 2017
In response to a new comment, I decided to add a little update to my original posting about the deer and Magnolia tree...

As you can see, the Magnolia tree is still with me today. Not only did the deer strip the lower limbs and scrap the bark of the tree, squirrels have been an issue as well. The deer used the tree as a marker for their sent by rubbing their antlers on it twice! And then squirrels started to climb the tree and eat the blooms while in their budding stage.

 Since we enjoy the critters within our gardens, we try to live in harmony. So instead of Annie grabbing her gun and shooting the creatures on the earth, she instead tries to balance things a bit. I have found a way to keep the squirrels at bay with a stove pipe around the trunk. This worked well for the Crabapple tree and now it flourishes. I also squirt a bit of "Liquid Fence" in the area to ward off the deer.

As you can see, the limbs from the deer destruction back in Oct. 2012 never grew back. Hopefully in time the Magnolia Tree or Topiary as I now call it, will thrive. But for now, she just chugs along ever so slowly. It is never a dull moment in my Georgia Gardens with the wildlife.

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Diverse Island

BY SKEETER

 I am going to take you back to early April today with our first voyage of the year to our beautiful Georgia Lake. Going under this bridge, I am always on the look out for Osprey as they like to nest on top of the bridge.

Zooming in, I spot the nest but no activity.

 Later with our return back under the bridge, we spot an Osprey on the nest. We see Osprey more often then Bald Eagles but enjoy them both.

 We took advantage of a beautiful day to beach the boat at several different islands in order to do some geocaching. While on this one island, we spotted a goose sitting on a nest.

 She was very quiet and still and we did not spot her as we arrived on the island. We spotted her as we were departing and after snapping a few photos of her from afar, we quietly left the island without disturbing her further.

We spotted many Loons on the lake this day.

We were lucky enough to hear them call out as well! Love that sound.

 I spotted wild Vinca on another island. The leaves were covered with pine pollen.

 The Vinca was just starting to bloom but I so wished this patch of it was in full bloom.

 While walking on the islands, I had on water shoes but the shoes would not protect my piggies from the massive amounts of Pine Pollen that was falling from those tall Georgia Pine Trees.

 Pine Pollen is so large that it is easily seen floating on top of the water at the lake.  

Yes, it was a yellow icky mess. But since this photo was snapped, the rains came and washed all the pollen out and the lake is once again clear! Luckily, this pollen does not affect sinus for people.

 As we beached the boat on an island, I spotted this Lady Bug hanging out enjoying the warm sunshine.

 This was our favorite island we visited this day. It is so diverse in terrain and so neat to explore.

 The pebbles on the beach were so unique and soft to the feet.

 These large rocks were the source of the pebbles as the pebbles crumbled from them. We suspect some type of Soft Slate type stone.

I spotted this large bush in full bloom! Master Gardener Tina, do you know this bush?

 The blooms looked like some sort of Bleeding Heart type bloom. 

 I also spotted Carolina Jessamine blooming on this island.

 Soft pebbles on one side of the island and Red Clay on the other.

Just up from the Red Clay, is this view. I tell you it is one DIVERSE ISLAND, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Smokey Mountain Wild Flowers

BY SKEETER

 The Saint and I left our GEORGIA GARDENS for a little get-away in the Tennessee mountains. While there, I spotted lots of wild flowers along the roadside. This Sweet pea was so vibrant in color.

 While nearby this Golden Rod was just starting to show its color.  

Joe Pye Weed below a waterfall in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

 Joe was mighty happy along the water side.

 Cardinal Flower (Lobelia) was spotted in the middle of the water surrounded by large rocks.

 Asters maybe?

 Orange Jewel Weed and purple Asters mingling along with an orange colored leaf giving us a sign of Fall.

Orange Jewel Weed. 

 Wingstem (verbesina alternifolia) along the roadside.

 Zooming inward, we see an Ant.

 I believe this to be Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. humilis)

 This one really caught our eye! I have researched to find this beauty identified as Hearts-a-Bustin' (euonymus americanus) also known as Strawberry Bush, Swamp Dogwood and Spindle Bush. The Saint and I found this to be a really cool Bloom or Pod. 

 No Wild Flower here in this picture but found it captivating. A high foot traffic area in the woods above a nice roaring water way. Over time, ground erosion has exposed the root system of this tree. At some point the roots will no longer keep ahold of this tree and it shall be laying in the water below. Sigh...

Not another wild flower but rather a Wild Snake spotted along a sunny walkway. I was happy to say I knew this was a Garter Snake the minute I spotted it. A beautiful creature along with SMOKEY MOUNTAIN WILD FLOWERS, In the Garden...

 

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Summer Happenings

BY SKEETER

 Just popping in today to say hey! It has been a different kind of summer here in my GEORGIA GARDENS this year. Plenty Too Much rain has fallen upon us, temps lower then normal. But as normal, the humidity has been really high keeping me mostly out of the gardens. But I am out there when I see a break in the humidity. The handy beach umbrella keeps the shade upon my body to assist in keeping me cooler as I pluck weeds. The old Christmas rug, keeps my bum and knees happier!

 The Saint presented me with a new Weed Eater! Have never had a straight poled one before so it has been a challenge getting the hang of this model.

 The Elephant Ears continue to grow larger and larger with the plentiful rain falls.

 We checked out the flooded Savannah River and spotted these beautiful plants amongst the water overflow.

 Zooming in closer, I see some sort of Hibiscus maybe?

 Of course I had to zoom into a bug eaten bloom! This happens when one cannot see the photo on the camera with full sunlight. ha.

 This Heron was enjoying the flooded area.

 I made a trek home to Tennessee to help my mom celebrate her Birthday! While there I enjoyed the deer that come into their yard each evening for snacks.

 My parents and I enjoyed driving over this bridge. You just do not see many bridges as this anymore. My mom was a bit upset that I snapped this photo while driving. Sorry to scare ya mom but the conversation amongst you, dad and I was priceless...

 I made a trek to the New Tiger Gardens and enjoyed some time relaxing by the pond with Tina and Farmer Fixit!

 Their pond is full of wonderful things such as this frog!

 And this one too as well as many more. They were not happy to have us interlopers near their home.

 A dragonfly posed for a little photo op as well.

 Back home in Georgia, I have enjoyed the window Hummingbird feeder immensely this summer. I have it on the window by the computer and the fur-baby's and I  get a kick out of observing them having a sip. The blue in the background is the pool which has been an asset this summer as well.

 We have found a few Geo-Caches when the humidity was not so brutal. Along the way we spotted this wild grape vine.

 Full of Muscadine's just waiting for the pickings.

 Don't know why we did not pick one and give it a try, Duh.

 We have spotted lots of wildflowers while out geo-caching as well.

 Purple and Yellow mingling together.

 Another beautiful wildflower along a dirt road.

Love the cluster of tiny blooms.

And we have also enjoyed some time on our boat at the lake with a full pool for a change! This about sums up our SUMMER HAPPENINGS, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden