Beauty Despite the Beast

05/22/2024

Residential deer resistant entry garden under construction in Woodstock NY is very exciting to see happen with a very good contractor installing a geometric design which requires skill. Client, an interior designer himself has been terrific to work with.
Steel edging outlines beds derived from window placement and divisons of the house facade into which deer resistant shrubs and trees are planted. Colored gravels extend the house colors into the landscape along with pavers. New definition has been given to the garden, guest parking and vehicle entrance. Images are computer renders of the design and actual construction photos. WIP: work in progress!

08/11/2022

In addition to the deer resistant garden which obviously is limited to certain plants - an enclosed or fenced in area for a cutting garden is ideal to satisfy that urge for the truly splendiferous perennial and annual plants that you can use to grace the table or rooms in your home. Plants that would be very tasty to the deer if not fence protected. Here are a few photos from the cutting garden in bloom now that contain phlox, black eyed susan, gladiolas and asiatic lilies. Zinnias that were planted from seed have grown to over 5 feet tall and are endlessly flowering - a huge surprise! It has really been exciting to have a special spot to grow these beautiful plants and the bouquets that can be derived from them are such an elegant little spot of beauty anywhere you place them.

05/24/2022

I will be giving a presentation at the Warwick Public Library this Thursday, May 26th at 6 pm on deer resistant gardens with a focus on the plants and discussion to follow afterwards will include problem areas anyone has that they bring to the conversation we will try to solve!

03/01/2022

From the website blog at Beauty Despite the Beast we share some ideas about how to get your garden beds ready for spring with instructions from Brecks - an excellent source for bulbs that we use. Think about a beautiful pastel garden at your home from our themed color collection: we take the guesswork out of making the most gorgeous deer resistant gardens on the web.

Beauty Despite the Beast offers professionally designed pre-planned, Do It Yourself (DIY) deer resistant garden plans.

02/27/2022

This was written by one of my clients from last summer. It was such a delight to work with Ira and his enthusiasm overflowed for the work we did together. As he says below, it rekindled his interest in gardening which had been so discouraged by the deer problem where he lived.

To Whom It May Concern:
I gave up gardening because of the wooded area I live in. My garden became a buffet for deer despite my efforts to thwart them with various products and gimmicks.
After many years, I consulted with beautydespitethebeast. The plants that were recommended were not only deer resistant they were also perfect for my growing zone 6a. Beautydespitethebeast not only suggested perfect plants but also assured that I would have different plants blooming all of the growing season with minimal maintenance. The recommendations were also cost effective. Today my garden is the envy of the neighborhood. I can’t thank beautydespitethebeast for rejuvenating my love of gardening. Highly recommended.
Sincerely,
Ira

09/09/2020

The fall experimental deer resistant garden is richer and fuller than ever with agastache varieties, cleome,russian sage, ornamental grasses, eupatoriums, alliums, and wild white onion that has volunteered and populated the border creating a quality that borders on the magical.

06/29/2020

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN NOW? Everyday something new and alive greets me. New buds forming on stems that were bare, new flowers opening from buds that had formed, new exponential growth on a plant that seems to have doubled in size over nite. The layers of the garden overlap, it is lush and the colors are fast against each other now. This is a garden of blues, blue and red violets, grey green, dark green and green foliage with touches of bright yellow. The deer resistance is holding up well: the garden is visually exciting and new ideas keep coming for the few empty spots in the perennial bed for next year. It is a continuous work of art and love. Happy accidents occur and the unplanned beauty surprises. Towers of yuccas in flower ignite the upper terrace beds. Next month: the russian sages, the buddleias and the joe pye w**d will make their appearance, to name a few waiting in the wings.

06/15/2020

Well the deer have not been attracted to dine on the garden, as planned!, so it is beginning to look ravishing. The Lamb's Ears (Stachys lanata) and pink dwarf monarda look terrific together. The fuzzy grey Ears are such a dependable plant - no fuss or problems - and their vertical spikey flowers make such a wonderful accent right now throughout the garden, planted at the front of the border, in a series of clumps. After they finish blooming, I will cut back the tall flower spikes. I also have the Hellen von Stein variety that does not flower and makes really beautiful, sensuous, large leaves....(only) will get a photo of them soon as they make a super foliage plant for the front of the garden and the grey-green color is something I cannot be without.

06/04/2020

Beauty Despite the Beast now will include WOODCHUCKS in the ' beast' category and offer resistant gardens to this critter as well.

Having achieved a wonderful deer resistant garden in the south Hudson Valley it has become painfully evident that woodchucks are another ' beast' we need to contend with. We will be featuring plans that resist both or single creatures on our site. We want you to feel confident to create beautiful gardens: no matter what!

Check us out at: www.beautydespitethebeast.com

Critter Image Credit: chesapeakebay.net
Flowers: Katz/ Experimental garden, so. Hudson Valley, NY