My garden is a fawn nursery
Suddenly they’re everywhere. The deer? No, they’re always here, passing through my garden and neighbors’ yards at dusk, at night, in early morning. But starting in mid-May, the does give birth. They stash their tiny fawns in a hiding place — under a bush, behind a potted plant, in a clump of feathergrass — while they go off to graze for hours.
Not much larger than a King Charles spaniel, the newborn to week-old fawns know to lay low and stay absolutely still when you walk by. Their brown coats with white spots camouflage them remarkably well.
You don’t see them at first. But they see you. When you linger too close, leaning down to pull a weed or standing at the mailbox or opening your car door, they suddenly decide the danger is too close and flush from their hiding place — right under your feet maybe — with a wild, scurrying clatter. You freeze, your heart in your mouth or simply bemused — huh, I didn’t know it was there — and watch as it runs off to settle somewhere new. Mama always manages to find it later.
Three fawns are regulars in my garden right now. This pair of twins was tucked into the feathergrass along the driveway, and at dusk I spotted them again in the island bed…
…with mama standing watch.
As neighbors approached on a dog walk, the doe and her fawns hustled across the street, keeping a wary eye on us.
That same day we’d spotted another fawn tucked in the drainage well in our front courtyard.
David saw her first from the bathroom window. This was a good observation spot, as she didn’t notice us watching through the glass above her head.
I got some zoomed-in photos from the window.
She lay there all day, and temps were pleasant, so I didn’t worry about her getting too hot on the rocks.
When mama didn’t come for her by dusk, I started to worry. But after dinner I looked out the window, and she was gone. That evening it stormed with high winds and thundering rain. Around midnight I took the dog out front for one last bathroom break, and we accidentally flushed the frantic fawn from the same hiding spot. I was dismayed to realize she’d been in the drainage well throughout the storm and pounding rain. Why hadn’t her mother come for her? With a clatter of tiny hooves across the driveway, she bolted into the dark.
Yesterday I was relieved to see her with mama again. At least I think it’s her. I want to believe it’s her. When I walked out of the house to my car, I surprised them both during a midday siesta next to the corten planter in front of the house. The skittish baby leapt up into the sedge lawn, prepared to flee. But mama just stood up and waited, and baby calmed down and waited too. I took this picture as I was driving off. A moment later, baby was nursing and they were settling in again.
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Digging Deeper
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I love to see wildlife close by. Hate it when their resting place is by a route I have to take to get to the car or shed! Hahah, maybe make a not-to-be-ignored spot back in an isolated area of your yard for leaving their fawns!
They find all the quiet places already, haha. I think really they’d like to have the whole garden.
with those ears and big eyes they remind me of my Billie! I don’t think my nerves could stand waiting to see if mama finds her babies again…
I was stressed about it! But all’s well that ends well.
You are a good grower! Do the fawns need a lot of watering? ;^)
Happily no. Or if they do, their mamas take care of that. 😉
Oh Pam, how lucky you are to have fawns around the house! And to get close-up shots of them through a window must have been so exciting. You truly do have a magical garden!
Aw, thank you, MaryGail. I do love seeing the fawns.
Oh, my! Having fawns would be a mixed blessing, here in Eastern NA. Lovely to see.
It’s a mixed blessing, for sure. It’s easy to love a baby. The adults, not so much. 😉
I loved this post! Your pictures are fabulous!
Thank you, Jane!
Aww, it’s hard not to fall in love with those sweet faces and wish them the best. I’ve been soft-hearted about the bunnies that have occupied my garden. We had none until 3 years ago and even in the first couple of years they usually dispersed in early spring (or perhaps the coyotes culled their numbers). Now they clearly live here. I haven’t turned into Mr. McGregor yet but I admit they’re wearing me down. Cages are going up around plants all over my garden.
Kris, I can relate! I was soft-hearted when rabbits first appeared in my garden too. And then suddenly they were everywhere, eating lots of plants and digging deep holes. I shored up the back fence to try to keep them out of there at least, and it’s working for now.
So amazing: nature, up close and personal.
Nice of them to allow you to live in their territory 😀
Haha, yeah, although we’ve created exactly the kind of habitat they love, and eliminated natural predators, thereby increasing their numbers to unhealthy proportions. As you can see, I have mixed feelings about them. 🙂 I do enjoy seeing the fawns because…babies…but there are way too many deer in the suburbs.
Beautiful photos, I’m wishing the very best for the cuties and their mom. Is wonderful that you get to enjoy them. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed the pics, Doris!
This is pure magic! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Camille. It was pretty sweet. 🙂