I am trying to outwit the deer this year. The last couple years they have mowed the struggling tulips to the ground before any flowers appeared. They also took out the bluebells I had high hopes for.

This year I went to the dollar store and bought Irish Spring soap which they are reported to dislike. I poked a hole in the bars and put fishing line through them. I also got extra “shepherd’s hooks” for the yard. I hung the soap over the bluebells and over the tulips.

When we got home from Florida I realized the rain water had been flowing over the soap and was dripping directly on the Bluebells. I waded through our swampy yard and moved it. There has been such a tremendous amount of rain that the bars of soap are splitting into layers!

They deer however have not made a meal of bluebells!

And though likely underfed and stunted by years of abuse – tulip is up!

I will also see if the rose bush the deer chomped on last year comes back. If it does, it too will be adorned with soap near it!