MinervaFlora - September Updates

Typically, I’m writing about invasive plant alternatives, but we had a resident request info on living with Odocoileus virginianus, better known as White-Tailed Deer. Though we may love (or not) seeing the sweet, doe-eyed mammals, many of us would like to discourage them from eating at the smorgasbord that is our yard. Apparently the most effective ways to deter are an 8-foot fence, a dual-fence system (two parallel 4’ fences, four feet apart) or a slanted fence at a 45 degree angle. Individual cages can be wrapped around plants. Lastly, scent sprays can be used to deter munching. (Our go to is Deer Stopper.  We’ve found it to be very effective). It is organic and doesn’t smell too bad - to humans, anyway.

Another way to thwart the grazing is to plant plants the deer don’t like - strong smelling or fuzzy species like Lavender, Coneflower, or Black-Eyed Susans. Absolutely do not place food the deer likes out for them to eat.

As far as living in harmony with deer and without conflict, typically they are scared of human voices, suddenly barking dogs, bright flashing lights and loud noise in general. Remember they adapt quickly, so don’t use the same system repeatedly.

If a deer stares at you, it is assessing danger. You should stay still and don’t look them directly in the eye. If the deer stomps or makes a blowing sound, this is a warning. If its ears are back, this signifies stress or aggressiveness. Flipping the tail means it’s about to run! To remove yourself, wait for the deer to look away, back slowly away, turning sideways, and put a large object (tree/rock) between you and the deer. 

Never approach a deer. Fawns are often left for +/- 12 hours by their mother while she goes foraging. This is a survival tactic to keep predators away from the fawns, which are scentless and camouflaged. Stay clear if you find a baby. Only contact Ohio Division of Wildlife when the fawn is injured, crying constantly or found next to a dead mother. When driving, to avoid hitting a deer, use high beams (when there is no oncoming traffic) and scan the sides of the road.

This month I’ll be writing about the beautiful Purple Loosestrife. It is a beauty, BUT it is also an aggressive non-native wetland plant that is officially classified as a noxious weed in Ohio. This means it is illegal to sell, distribute or cultivate in the state of Ohio. Like others I’ve written about, it crowds out natives that local wildlife rely on, ruining the waterways with dense thickets that block wildlife nesting in addition to blocking open water access for fish and amphibians. It also has low nutritional value for birds and insects. 

One single plant can produce 2.5 MILLION seeds/year!!! To remove, hand pulling or digging young plants is ideal. An approved aquatic herbicide can be used as well.  Removed plants should be placed in a garbage bag and put in trash. Additionally, the Ohio Invasive Plants Council is seeing good results with using a specialized leaf-eating beetle without harming our native flora.  

Unfortunately, you can currently find this plant along at least one of MP’s lakes and near the stream.  I’m hopeful our MinervaFlora Invasive Removal Team will be removing these this season when we start invasive removal. We’d love for residents to join us for these sessions which will be posted on the MPCA FB page

So once the loosestrife has been removed, what can it be replaced with that likes these conditions and has a similar appearance?  

-Blazing Star(Liatris spicata), the bee and butterfly magnet with its lovely upright, spikes of purple flowers in mid-summer.

-Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana), with spikes of pink or purple tubular flowers that hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and skippers love. It is also is rarely eaten by deer and other mammals. 

-Other possible replacements are Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) and Joe Pye Weed (eutrochium purpureum).