Elderberry Experiment: Update #8

[NeoGreen]

The experiment has done well-enough through spring 2018:

I had some deer come through Memorial Day weekend and their browsing caused quiet a bit of damage:


I lost a hand full of some of my best cuttings,


But I have learned to not give up on any single plant too soon,

I originally thought this one was a loss, but it surprised me with growth up from the roots.

The deer nibbling necessitated some counter measures:

I opened up and reshaped the circular/cylinder cages I built last year.




Plus, it has been relatively dry so I have set up a solar watering system


Which pumps into a 200-gallon tank,


Which I then use for gravity fed watering,





The 2-year old plants I bought and planted last year are doing very well and seem to have been untouched by the deer (so far),


So, despite the general attrition on the first year plants, I looking forward to a much larger crop of berries this fall, maybe even up to 30-pounds:



Links to previous updates:
Elderberry Experiment: In the beginning: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597228
Elderberry Experiment: Update #1: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597235
Elderberry Experiment: Update #2: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597246
Elderberry Experiment: Update #3: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597391
Elderberry Experiment: Update #4: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597481
Elderberry Experiment: Update #5: https://www.democraticunderground.com/11597520
Elderberry Experiment: Update #6: https://upload.democraticunderground.com/11597703
Elderberry Experiment: Update #7: https://upload.democraticunderground.com/11597833