In growing up on my grandparents’ farm, we had to be careful of deer eating our plants but honestly, there were bigger issues such as them eating off the leaves on the young trees we were planting or eating our vegetable and fruit gardens. I now leave in a suburban home and have had to fence in my vegetable garden to keep out the deer.

This book deals with the perennials and subscrubs that you can plant and deer will not eat them. Gardeners will welcome this advice as no one wants to have their hard work wasted or their money spent on plants eaten by deer.

Carolyn Singer has organized the plants alphabetically that are “yucky” to deer that makes the book easy to use. Under each plant heading a brief description and color picture is included along with cultural requirements, that tells you what zone this plants works best in, and what are its sun and water requirements. Details are given about the bloom, the seasonal interest, propagation and maintenance.  Where applicable, companion plants and landscape use is also included.

I read the book straight through and it was readable though most people will probably use it more as a reference book. Singer also includes several helpful appendix including Deer-Resistant Edging Perennials, Plants That May be Deer-Resistant and Plants That are on Deer-Resistance Lists but are not Deer-Resistant.

I would recommend this to gardeners that have problems with deer eating their plants but it is also a good plant reference for gardeners who do not have problems with deer.

 

 

Reviewed on 04/28/2011 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Janice Hidey

Book Title: Deer In My Garden, The Yucky Flower Series
                 Volume 1: Perennials & Subshrubs
Author: Carolyn Singer
Publisher: Garden Wisdom Press
ISBN: 9780977425105
Reviewed By Michele Tater for Review The Book

“ How deeply seated in the human heart is the liking for gardens and gardening”                      ~Alexander Smith

                                                                                     
Although I have not had a problem with deer eating my plants, knock on wood, I would like to plant perennials and subshurbs next year that I can be hopeful will not become a meal for our four legged friends. The book “Deer in My Garden” seems to be the book that I can use as a reference as I plan out my gardens. It has 53 plants that are tested by the author in her own gardens and are only the ones that deer don’t eat at all.

Each plant includes: Description of it which lists the height and spread information; Cultural Requirements that has Zone numbers, soil and sun needs; Bloom with bloom times and color only if the plant blooms; Seasonal Interest of the plant during the changing of the seasons; Companion Plants and Landscape Uses; Propagation in other words how to grow from seed or divided it from another plant; Maintenance of the plant as it grows. With all this information it makes it easy to prepare my garden for the new plants and how to take care of them once they are planted.

In the back there are Appendixes that are also lists of plants:
Appendix 1: Deer-Resistant Edging Perennials, Appendix 2: Other Perennials That May Be Deer-Resistant, and Appendix 3: Plants That Are Not Deer-Resistant, But Are On “Deer-resistant” Plant Lists. Again very informative lists to use in the decision progress.

In reading through this book, I actually become bummed that we are heading into winter. The spring season for next year is going to fun and easier thanks to the helpful information in this book. I recommend “Deer in My Garden” for the beginning gardener especially the ones with the problem of deer munching on their plants. Also the experienced gardener may be interested in planting ideas and the lists.
Still love the deer, even if they eat the bird seed out of the feeders and now I can buy the plants that they will think are yucky.

Reviewed on 11/11/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member michele tater

Deer In My Garden
  Volume 1:  Perennials and Subshrubs
  The Yucky Flower Series
Author:  Carolyn Singer
Publisher:  Garden Wisdom Press
ISBN:  978-0-9774851-0-5

Deer are beautiful, graceful creatures.  Many people watch them with awe and great enjoyment.....unless, of course, you are watching as they devour your garden.  Carolyn Singer shares her vast knowledge of horticulture and landscaping with the reader, along with her personal experiences with ravenous deer.  She spent more than 25 years planting beautiful gardens only to watch the deer picnic on the flowers, leaves, etc.  She decided it was time to experiemnt in her garden and those of her friends and neighbors.  That began her quest to discover what her 3 year old grandson called "Yucky Flowers", yucky to the tastes of deer and other wildlife.

Whether you are a novice gardener or an experienced grower, you'll find this book invaluable.  The first chapters cover the very basics of planting, understanding growing culture and planting zones and seasons, as well as different forms of planting and propagations.  The plants in the volume are well described with both scientific and common names, information on the plant characteristics and size at maturity, ideas for companion plantings and much more.

Written in an easy to read friendly style and efficient format, this is a very valuable book for every gardening fan.  It would be a wonderful gift for the novice or experimenting gardener.  I've been gardening for years, and I learned so much from this book.  I plan to keep it among my permanent gardening references; in fact, it is so thorough and well written it will replace several existing references. 

Reviewed on 09/07/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member LAURI COATES

    Carolyn Singer, has captured the essence of gardening into a single book. Whether you are an avid gardener or just a Sunday planter, this is the book for you. Many gardeners have awoke to find their prized plant has become dinner for the local wildlife, Singer has provide us with the solution to keep your garden in bloom. Do not head to the nursery without your copy of  “Deer in My Garden”.

Reviewed on 07/27/2009 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Angela Simmons