August 2019 – French Broad Hollow Ramble

Fawns are back!

After my last post, I was relieved to have a visit from two sets of twins today, including the one who comes close for apples. (I do know that one of the does who is low on the totem pole—I call her “Spooky” because she keeps her distance when I feed—has lost one of her twins.)

It’s only been a couple of days since my last post, so I don’t have much to write. Here are some of the plants I’ve seen lately on my rambles.

Wingstem Verbesina alternifolia

Field Thistle Cirsium discolor

Common Jewelweed Impatiens capensis

Biennial Beeblossom Oenothera gaura

Sweet Joe-Pye-Weed Eutrochium purpureum

That’s about it for today. Maybe I’ll have more to write next time; I’m thinking about photos from my trail camera. 🙂

Walking with nature

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Bobcat 8-17-19 – Version 2

See that critter in the circle? Bobcat! I saw it ahead, seemingly unaware of my presence, as it went around a curve. With my camera at the ready, I followed as quietly as I could, and when I came around the curve, there it was! I was able to get this photo before it disappeared into the brush. Later, a neighbor near the highway texted that a bobcat had just walked up her driveway. Considering visits from bears (which I am happy to say I’ve not had lately), it seems that the we have some new four-legged neighbors in the Hollow. As exciting as it is to see the bobcat. I have mixed feelings about its presence, as I think that some fawns have gone missing (although I keep hoping that they are laying low in the recent abnormally hot weather).

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I promised butterflies in the last post; here are some that have been visiting my garden or keeping my company on my rambles.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus

Snowberry Clearwing Hemaris diffinis

Sachem Atalopedes campestris

Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae

Spicebush Swallowtail Papilio troilus

Silver-spotted Skipper Epargyreus clarus

Phaon Crescent Phyciodes phaon

Zabulon Skipper Poanes zabulon

Common Buckeye Junonia coenia

I started writing this a few hours ago, but it takes me a while to identify the butterflies. Since then I have fed the deer (twice!) and was happy to see a couple of fawns. Sadly, no twins, and not the one that was eating apples last week. Here’s a quick video of one that came today:

And now it’s time to bring in laundry, feed cats, and think about my own supper. If the heat keeps up, I’ll be back posting in a few days.

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Time to post!

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It’s been a pretty quiet time, but I didn’t want to let too much time slip by without a new post. I thought this one was going to be a hodgepodge, but it turned out to be about deer.

The fawns are coming more now, and some of them are getting closer. The twins of the dominant doe (the one who eats apples from my hand) are getting bigger, and one of them is very curious about this creature who delivers the feed. He(?) has his mother’s love of apples, and today he was eating corn, too.

I’ve taken several videos of the fawns (so cute!) and also a couple showing how feeding time has been lately. I’m trying to figure out how you can subscribe to my channel without making it public; for now I just realized I could post them directly here! And you may be able to subscribe to the channel, too!

I’ll try to post again soon with butterflies and flowers.

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Fawns and fungi

Shaggy-stalked Bolete Heimioporus betula

It’s been quiet lately (which is probably good), but I didn’t want to let too much time get by without a post. The deer continue to bring their fawns, but they usually run into the woods or the meadow before I can get close enough for a good photo. The one above is a twin who was brave enough to get close and even tried a bit of apple.

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It’s rained all around us, but we haven’t gotten enough to wet the deck, despite the thunder and lightning. Nothing has come of the 70% chance they called for today, so I guess I’ll be watering my vegetables tomorrow morning.

It does seem to be mushroom season, although I haven’t seen any sign of the chicken of the woods that has been so regular for years. Last year it was big by now. I have seen other mushrooms, however. (I use iNaturalist for identification but am not confident of all of these.)

Candy Cap Lactarius rubidus

White-Pored Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus cincinnatus

Brown Roll-Rim Paxillus involutus

Shaggy-stalked Bolete Heimioporus betula

Golden Milkcap Lactarius alnicola

Short-stemmed Russula Russula brevipes

Indigo Milk Cap Lactarius indigo

Fishy Milkcap Lactifluus volemus

Great Pine Jewel Amanita magniverrucata

Crowded Parchment Stereum complicatum

Indigo Milk Cap Lactarius indigo

Remember the turtle from the last post, the one that seems to stay in the ditch? She was gone the next day, and this beautiful male has taken her place!