The rye grass in your plot mix is a perennial - it is a grass. Winter rye is an annual grain - you plant in fall, it comes up green with foot high blades similar to lawn grass. Then in spring it continues to grow up to 3 ft and yields its grain, and dies. Deer love the Winter Rye - the downfall is you must replant each year. Winter rye stays green even under the snow, so in late fall it is the only green thing around.