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PAUL'S BLOG
Our Community We moved to this small community 10 years ago (1997) from a very busy metropolitan city. We enjoy the serene countryside and academia and great medical facilities in the area. The university recently opened a huge arena with a seating capacity of 15,000. Our population is only 45,000 in the county, but that swells to 65,000 when the college kids are on campus!	About Our Gardens Our Hibiscuses Our Community
From a townhouse with a postage stamp lawn to a 5 bedroom, split level home, situated on an acre of land—was a huge move. And with the added addition of a sun room and a hand-dug 1,100 gallon water lily pond, plus 18 new flower beds, it is keeping us pretty busy.

Although our home is located only 2 miles from a large shopping center, we have an abundance of wildlife including deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, salamanders, ground hogs and a bear which passes through occasionally. This is the first year that we have had problems with the deer eating our plants. Behind our property they are developing 400 acres of land. The property will have 700 homes, apartments and condominiums, a church, a school, a soccer field, and a small shopping center. Therefore, the animals have been uprooted from their habitat. The deer have eaten our sedums, yuccas, lemon trees, hostas, star gazer lilies, day lilies, red hot pokers, dahlias, hibiscus, roses, cactus and mums. Back in the spring Linda was driving home from a computer class and hit and killed a red fox on our highway.
About the only plant that the deers haven't eaten are the American Beauty Berries shown here (purple berries) of which we have about 25 plants. The purple berries look great in the flower arrangements that Linda makes. American Beauty Berries will grow to about 40 feet if you don't prune them. Linda does all of the pruning and she loves to everyting.

PAUL'S BLOG