Since the snow has lingered for the last week, on a nightly basis we have a regular visitor.  Yes, a deer, who loves to chomp on our cedar hedging trees.  I am really surprised then that when we first bought our Fintry home there was an established hedge between us and the neighbour on the one side of the property.  I can only conclude that the previous owners had a dog which would have kept the deer at a distance.    We subsequently planted a cedar hedge on the opposite side of the property but each year it is a battle to keep it in shape.  Despite my husband putting a number of barriers up (the garden looks like a battleground at the moment), we have one particular deer sneaking in and it has already caused a lot of damage.  The property is also fenced but the deer can easily jump that.  

On hindsight now we should have planted a more deer resistant type of hedge.  I have been doing some research and it seems that holly* stands out (the deciduous one) as being the most deer proof type of shrub although it would take a while to get established.  Other suggestions for suitable shrubs are viburnum* and barberry*.  As far as evergreens, juniper or spruce would be a good choice.  

I thought this is a good time to mention again about shrubs and trees that have winter interest.  It is interesting to see the contrast of the deep maroon red stalks of the dogwood bush* against the snow (unfortunately I am not sure of the variety as it was already planted in the garden when we bought the property).  Even the blue, green branches of a small fir tree that we acquired (planted in the rockery garden) gives contrast to the landscape during the winter months.  

It has become a nightly ritual for my husband to go outside with his extra large flashlight to see if there are any new deer prints.  That is one way of keeping occupied during the long dark evenings of this season.

*Please refer to tab entitled “shrubs” for more detailed information