Liriope

I have been trying to clean up my Georgia home lately while getting things a bit more organized. That includes the computer. I have found many things which do not relate to a winter topic but since we are all tired of winter, lets take a look back shall we?

When we purchased this house, there was a skimpy circle of Liriope or Monkey Grass surrounding a tree in the front yard. The Saint hated it as it got in the way of mowing. Since I did about 98% of the mowing back then, I told him to keep his hands off my Monkey Grass! It was located in an area that receives little attention to me so I decided it needed a new home.
I dug all the bulbs out of the ground and moved them into a planter in the backyard which surrounds a Willow Oak tree. I had put Shade loving impatience in this planter one year and it was beautiful. But anyone growing a planter full of Impatience will soon find out that it loves to drink water! During our hot steamy summers, I was finding myself slowly melting away each day with hose in hand keeping the impatiens happily fed. They were beautiful and filled the planter with color all summer long. But such work to keep alive in this hot climate. I vowed to never have impatiens in my garden again as long as I live in Georgia. I am happy with replacing the planter with this Monkey Grass. It does not require much attention and easily spreads. Look how full the planter is becoming only starting with a few skimpy sprigs. Some may consider this an invasive plant but it seems to stay contained in this planter. We have been living under drought conditions the past 3 years and the purple pretty continues to thrive. Here the grass is during the winter months with a blanket of leaves keeping it warm. Once the temps climb a bit such as in the past few weeks, I get my favorite combing tool to work.

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This little hand rake was purchased for a single dollar at a discount store. I love this tool as it is perfect for combing the Monkey's hair! Click the video to see how easily it removes the old leaf from within.

Here is the planter after a good combing with my trusty tool. Some people clip their Monkey grass back each spring before the new growth starts to pop up from the warm soil. But I have not clipped mine in the past few years and it does well. We are lucky with living in a warmer climate so the green stays fairly well all winter long.

I have a little problem with the Monkey grass though.

Okay, a BIG problem! The deer think this is a feeding trough I have filled for them!

Just look at Miss Doe getting into the planter!

And teaching her babies to follow suit! I was shocked to see such young fawns during the middle of September as they are usually much larger and with few spots by that time of year. Mommy Doe had already lost her red color and was a grayish brown for Fall and Winter.

The second of the twins was trying to decide if it wanted to join in on the fun...

"Na, I think I will just give my back a little lick instead" says the baby fawn.

"Oh, what the heck, you make it look like so much fun, I will join you"

Being the animal lover I am, all I can do is sit quietly in my sun-room and watch these beautiful creatures eat the LIRIOPE, In the Garden...