Leek, top missing.
Sweetcorn, top missing.
Broad bean, ditto.
Strawberry.
Shallots.
The carrot. In fact, I actually have two carrots, not one like I said before. Two! Both with the tops missing. Insult to injury.
For goodness sake. What is going on here??? My plot neighbour says it's muntjac. Apparently there have been hoofprints and maybe even a sighting. I hear that they're incredibly destructive, despite looking small and cute-ish. So now there are badgers, slugs and muntjac eating the stuff. Not to mention more ants' nests than you could shake a stick at and every kind of pernicious weed known to man. But hey, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?
Here are some pretty things at the allotments, to take the edge off of the dark destruction. I should probably mention that none of the pretty things are on my plot. Doesn't stop me enjoying them though.
Firstly, this beautiful mix of flowers and foliage. It was the scent that stopped me in my tracks first, it was divine.
I've no idea what any of it is except the foxgloves and maybe some kind of rose thing. But I just loved the combination of colours. It's all been planted along the boundary of the site, and it makes me so happy that people put so much work into making the area look lovely.
I really must plant some of these Sweet Williams next year. I've planted a few flowers, but none of them will be in bloom for a while yet. In the meantime me and the muntjac will be enjoying the asparagus. I hope everything is blooming in your garden, and that the pests aren't too pesky.
The slugs ate all my sunflowers :( So annoying after all the hard work. I hope your allotment still produces some great food. x
ReplyDeleteYour wonderful smelling flower is a multiflora rose, a pernicious weed. Here they are in bloom all over. And they do smell so wonderful. I hope your deer go away to other pastures. We have a lot of pests here, but at least no deer.
ReplyDeleteBlack elderflower I would say for your mystery plant...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry your tops are being attacked! I admit I had to look up "muntjac". And I also admit that "barking deer" didn't help me much. Kids and Animals have that in common. Don't underestimate the cute for the level of destruction they can cause. The mix of flowers and foliage is lovely. Like the close-up too, always learn something here CJ!
ReplyDeleteAw I'm sorry about your plants :( The main reason I don't plant a garden is because I'm convinced that the critters will eat everything. There's always bunnies, squirrels, possums, chimpmunks, skunks, etc. in my backyard. Good luck figuring it out! That last photo is soooo gorgeous!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh no! They're eating everything you've worked so hard to grow! Well, maybe it's just because you grow the best stuff:) I hope that you're able to enjoy the fruits of your labor, though. We have a lot of squirrels in our back yard who seem to always get in our potted plants. They act like it's their yard:) Hope you're having a great day, CJ!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness.. I've never heard of a Muntjac! I googled it and it's pretty cute. But I bet you're not fond of your garden robber. We're (husband and I) are fascinated by your hedgerows. I hope you get to your produce first! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteYikes. I don't know what a muntjac is but he sounds like a bit of a jerk. I hope you get it figured out soon.
ReplyDeleteOur chocolate ghost and white habanero peppers are doing well in spite of the leaves being munched down by deer. The Maruga Scorpion pepper isn't doing as well, but hanging in there.
ReplyDeleteMy bat plant was in the house and doing worse and worse. I moved it outside this morning. Hopefully the deer will NOT find it tasty.
Oh no! I have to say, I'd struggle to get annoyed at a muntjac... Strangely I think I'd rather they were nibbling away at the plants than some tiny pest or other. We have blackfly on some things and they're horrid.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything's salvageable. And those black elderflower or whatever they are - I used to have one once and they are indeed lovely (and quite easy to procure). Our Sweet Williams have come good again this year, I'd definitely recommend them.
Sarah x
Oh grrrr CJ ! How annoying after all your hard work - I bet you couldn't believe it when you saw it. I guess its the circle of life and all that - but still *^.#**ing annoying !!
ReplyDeleteOnwards and upwards ... and always keep smiling :-)
Kate x
Muntjac? Muntjac? That must be a made up animal. I thought it was a story told by opd allotment owners to frighten the young. But now I know. Sorry the Muntjac are out and I hope they leave your allotment alone!
ReplyDeleteHow annoying, snails are eating my broccoli, and this is my first year of planting veg - it may be back to the supermarket for me! We are overrun with muntjac in Norfolk, apparently the farmers find them destructive, we just find them a hazard on the roads leaping out from hedgerows!
ReplyDeleteThat little garden shed is so pretty, as are the flowers.
Gardening is often frustrating isn't it? Wildlife is not always welcome in a garden or on an allotment either! That lovely black elder (sambucus nigra I think it's called) seems to be everywhere this year isn't it lovely? Love the little green shed too.
ReplyDeleteThe dark leaved bush is Sambucus nigra we have a couple of the plot and one at home. We also have given quite a few away as it is easy to get cuttings going from it. It grows fast and get quite large but you can prune it hard. Just wondered whether a muntjac would eat more of the plant - we are plagued with wood pigeons!
ReplyDeleteI had to google Muntjac - I'd honestly never heard of them! Blimey, what a lot you have to contend with. CJ, you are shattering my myth of allotment life, let me tell you... ;-) xx
ReplyDeleteOh no, all your hard work.I thought you were going to say it was rabbits. They've left part of the plants so they might recover, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I would have guessed rabbits - that is what has eaten the tops off of my parsley. I had to Google muntjac to find out that it is a real animal - I thought you were being funny at first - sort of like a jackalope!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a major grrrrrrrrrrrrr moment!!!! I hope that everything recovers and grows well despite the damage. I guess taking the tops off is better than right down to the ground, but that isn't a consolation is it! xx
ReplyDeleteOh no ,that is so sad, all that hard work .I do hope will get something to eat , damn those muntjac!!!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, my sympathies it could well be a muntjac that's been nibbling. If it is you may well have to think about what you grow at home and on the plot to try and avoid it happening again. Terrific photos, and I do like the look of that shed!
ReplyDeleteFlighty xx
I had to Google Muntjac.....HA HA HA. Strange looking little deer. I put beer out for my slugs as I try not to use anything toxic. Some people plant marigolds which also acts as a garden deterrent. I've had my share of other critters munching on my broccoli. It's a constant battle, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI have a rabbit warren in plot no 10, although they seem to have left the beans and sweetcorn alone for the time being. I could live in that shed, it's gorgeous. Bloody Muntjac!
Leanne xx
Oh, your poor allotment. I can only echo Leanne's 'bloody Muntjac'. Apparently leaving a radio out overnight that's tuned to a talk station can help to deter them, or so my sister was told, although I don't think she's tried it yet.
ReplyDeleteI am telling you lady you had me rolling with this one!!! First off there is so much beauty happening all around you! Those shots of the little shed and all of that beautiful foliage about knocked me off the couch! The pests are another issue! We have Peter Rabbit living in our space and I have been a crazy lady out spraying that stinky urine stuff to keep them from munching but they find ways! You hang in there with your crops!!! Best wishes for the upcoming weekend! And happy asparagus eating!!! Nicole xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt must be really disappointing CJ! I should never complain about slugs really should I?
ReplyDeleteDeer, deer! (sorry.) As if it couldn't get any worse after all the slugs, etc. This is where it might come in handy to sling some nets over your crops - at least until they get a bit bigger - to give them a fighting chance. Now that my raspberries are ripening, I've a feeling there might be some nibbling of crops going on around here as well. I'll just have to get in first! ;) If you're allowed to pick some of the flowers off the sambuca, you can make pink elderflower cordial. A cheery thought! Have a lovely weekend, CJ - hope the sunshine lasts! C xx
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of a muntjac before. I had to google it. Man, they are cute! But apparently not in this case. I love the line about you and the muntjac both enjoying the food. ha! At least you are making light of this situation.
ReplyDeleteWe've got lots of slug damage at the minute. In some cases they don't even have the decency to just eat the tops. Now's the time to start sowing seeds for sweet Williams for next year - pests permitting!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm so sorry to hear that. I found hundreds of little grasshoppers on my garden this week. They made so many fruit trees were losen their leaves and also made holes on my veggies. Really really annoying. Hope your garden become better and give a great harvest. Happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteOh, that is annoying after all your effort too. I think muntjacs are becoming more common - I've certainly seem some round here. It's difficult because it is lovely to see wild animals flourishing, but definitely NOT when they eating your vegetables!
ReplyDeleteHave a good weekend
Caz xx
Oh poor you :( We came back from a break away to find the delivery lady had left the gate to the veg patch open (she put a parcel in the greenhouse) and the rabbits ate EVERYTHING in the patch, oddly some things have come back, they clearly had enough roots to grow new leaves but I could have cried. I hope you manage to protect what's left. Lovely borders to the allotment, I do love sweet williams.
ReplyDeleteOh it's such a shame CJ. I hope you find a way of protecting what's left. Your allotments are looking wonderful....those flowers are stunning and the little shed is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI've added you to my blog list as I don't want to miss ant more of your lovely posts.
Have a good week.
Jacquie x
Gardening can be so hit and miss, how frustrating that your new plants are being enjoyed by something else! The garden shed is wonderful, has it ever been damaged? The sheds on our allotment were being continually broken into. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOh, that's just terrible - there must be a very well fed muntjac wandering around in your area. Your allotment site does look lovely. I don't think I've ever seen such a stylish shed at an allotment, but maybe I'm just living in the wrong part of the country! Hope at least some of your plants recover... is it moth balls that are supposed to deter deer (or is that just moths)?
ReplyDeleteI have been fighting slugs for the second year in a row... And my roses are sick, but not sure exactly from what... I also have planted flowers, but none of them is blooming yet which is rather frustrating. I will plan better this autumn to make sure I have colours from Spring to Autumn... Good luck!
ReplyDelete