Deer Me

In the background of this photo between the trunk vees, some bare ground can be seen.  Weeding that area was my focus this morning.  In the foreground close to a fern, a new fawn is visible.  Apparently the fawn was there the entire time that I was working.  I moved intending to weed in the right foreground.  That was when I discovered the fawn and left the area to get Becky.

Several years ago I came upon a new fawn in the path to the back.  I advanced slowly to try for a closer look.  The fawn jumped to its feet trying to move away.  Its legs shot out to the sides and I left the area.  The next day the remains of a coyote fawn feast littered the ground.  I felt responsible for this death.  We kept our distance this morning using the zoom feature on the camera to snap the picture.  Our distance away was acceptable as the fawn was still curled up next to my garden fern several hours later.  I view this garden ground as mine but apparently the deer also claim ownership.  I could not disturb the new baby.

We saw the fawn in exactly that same spot several times during the day.  An internet search revealed that it is normal for the newly born deer to be placed in hiding all alone for upwards of twelve hours.  We found it somewhat troubling that this new baby was without food, water or company.  In the early evening from the comfort of our sofa we saw the mother deer and her new baby briskly walking across our lawn.  Mother was setting a fairly quick pace with junior working hard to keep up but seemingly enjoying the action.  All was right with this new life despite its being placed in our much fussed over native plant garden.

We used the car to get Becky down the hill to see the fawn.  Believing that short trips are harmful to the vehicle, we drove across the valley to Irma's woods.  This native violet is a family favorite.

Despite the pure white appearance of the front of each flower, the back side of each blossom is purple.  Identification of a flower is easy.  Exactly what Viola  it might be is more difficult. Viola rugulosa looks very possible to me.  These violets appear here in huge numbers and removing a couple would do no harm.  Remembering the former owner of this land, we did not dig anything.

American sarsaparilla grows wildly here.  The bud covered spheres promise a generous display of flowers.  Several of these plants are growing in the gravel that edges the road.  It seems only prudent to rescue these plants that recently survived a brush with the snow plow.  We had no tools with us so no digging was done.  We repeat this conversation with ourselves every year but no digging here is ever done.

 

 These Marsh marigolds were purchased last year.  We let someone else remove these plants from the wild.  This ground is close to the base of our bedrock ridge.  All of this low ground is presently filled with bands of water although none can be found at the far end of the field.  Apparently, the water here is sufficient to support generous growth for these plants.  Wet spots are common here especially after the recent heavy rainfall and it was no easy task to keep feet dry while approaching these flowers.

Trifecta

It is common for fantastic natural sightings to unfold so rapidly that no photograph is possible.  That was the case today when two special events happened right before my eyes.  I was mowing at the time so no camera was even with me to endure the vibrations of tending long abandoned pasture.  On a single pass heading toward the remains of our bedrock ridge, two birds were seen.  A wild turkey flew over me and landed on land much like what is shown in the photo.  Turkeys find it difficult to fly preferring to walk.  This ground near the ridge is rough beyond description with huge chunks of rock interspersed with lumpy ground and standing water.  The turkey fed on dry ground nearest to the ridge and may have flown there to avoid getting wet.

Ingeborg and husband Rudy emigrated to NYC from Germany between the two World Wars.  Rudy was a skilled carpenter making a good living in the city.  When accumulated money was sufficient they found land upstate that was more to their liking.  On one of their trips to the land, they saw their first Indigo Bunting.  So thrilled with the sight of this iridescent bright blue bird, Rudy began building bird houses placing them about on their new land.  Several of these birdhouses now serve on our land.  This morning on the same pass with the mower that featured the turkey, a male Indigo Bunting also flew from the pasture to the woods behind our pond.  Watching it disappear into the forest was a rare thrill.  Every sighting of this bird brings to the surface memories of two people that helped us develop a lasting relationship with the natural world.

The flowers in the photo are Marsh Marigolds purchased and placed here last year.  It appears this this location suits them and I avoided a possible fall into a muddy ditch by buying potted plants.

   

We have a long history with Fringed Polygala having both successfully transplanted this rare treasure then watched it die when overrun by fiercely aggressive native plants.  Traditionally, flowers are open on Mother's day but this year's weather slowed the plants appearance.  We returned to the forest once again searching for this plant.  The flower buds have yet to open so we will return, possibly daily, to see these unusual and beautiful flowers.  The spade like leaf in the lower right corner of the picture is Canada Mayflower one of the aggressive plants that ended our otherwise wildly successful transplant.