A labor of love, a work of nature, a gift of community. Wesley at Tehaleh’s dahlia garden is that and more for resident Cory Olson and for all who enjoy these beautiful autumn flowers.
But for these lovely blooms to be enjoyed, they must survive the hungry wildlife.
Wildlife
Deer are averse to the scent and taste of dahlias and won’t eat them unless there are no other food sources available. Unfortunately, that’s not true of elk, who strip the dahlias of their blooms and leaves during nocturnal feeding expeditions. The resident elk herd that visits Tehaleh has 15-20 elk that take their grazing rights seriously.
The first year that the dahlia garden was in bloom, the elk came down at the end of the season. They didn’t cause much of a problem because of the imminent freezing weather. However, the elk came early the second year during the peak of the growing season. That’s when Cory said, “I will not plant dahlias this year without a fence. I don’t want to raise elk food!”
The first two years of planting the dahlia garden taught Cory that the arrival time of elk can be unpredictable. If he wanted to continue to raise beautiful flowers for the community to enjoy, he needed a solution to the elk problem.
A solution
Fortunately, Discovery Park is across the street from Wesley at Tehaleh. The park has raised flower beds enclosed by an eight-foot metal fence. This inspired Cory to research options for Wesley at Tehaleh’s dahlia garden beds. Tehaleh residents partnered with Wesley Community Foundation to raise money for the purchase and installation of a metal fence.
The elk-deterrent fence is made of welded horizontal and vertical rods suspended from two-inch pipes. The result is a see-through, sturdy, metal fence that cannot be destroyed or jumped over by elk. With two gated access points, the fence covers more space than the dahlia beds. This means gardeners who want raised plots to grow other plants will also benefit. You might see roses or vegetables along with the dahlias next year!
“The elk were here long before us so this fence means we can co-exist,” said Cory.
And for that, Wesley at Tehaleh is grateful to our generous Foundation donors.
From Wesley Community Foundation’s “Mission Matters”