Living on the Edge

Living outside the metro and right smack between the diverse ecosystems of the plains and the foothills is such an inspiring and often jaw-dropping experience. Nevertheless, there are days when I'd like to fence off a critter or two!!!










We used to have squatter bunny tenants, one in particular, who adopted our garden as their dinner table.




A rabbit's lifespan in the wild is about three years. We don't know how old Pierce was when we moved in, but about four years afterward, coinciding with our elimination of front yard rabbit food, Pierce quit hanging out at our humble abode.


before


after
We redid our front yard in 2013 and included predominantly rabbit- and deer-resistant as well as drought-tolerant species. So far, our subterfuge has been successful. No more rabbits. Deer, on the other hand, have been a little more difficult to convince.

They aren't eating the front yard, thank heavens, but they do think it's a marvelous place to take a siesta. They've squished my hyacinths more than once.








The backyard is not done yet. The deer have replaced our Leporidae dinner guest(s). They mow what little grass and weeds do come up in our slimy clay, which we appreciate, and they fertilize.

As much as I love to photograph the deer and brag about having them in our family, they have taken a liking to the tulips that came with the house, the grape hyacinth (or muscari) that came with the house, and the bird feeders we did not put out for them. !!!

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