It seems like the fawns showed up later than usual this year, and when I saw the first ones, they had obviously been around for a while. At least one doe was still pregnant in June, and I didn’t see any fawns except the first ones for a while, but now I have little visitors every day. There are two or more sets of twins and four or five singletons.
Last year’s fawns are still around, too, although the mamas sometimes run the little bucks off. The little bucks’ antlers are growing and covered with velvet. One fellow with larger antlers showed up this morning; I think he was around last year, too. They’re all hungry, although the meadow and woods are full of grasses and forbs. (Unfortunately, some of the forbs they eat are flowers and other plants cultivated by my neighbors and me.) As you can see if you click on an image, the flies plague the deer, and they go into the tall grass and the woods for relief. I carry a zapper racket when I go down to feed.
The Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene carolina Carolina) emerged from hibernation in April, and the females have been laying eggs. We have marked two nests in the Hollow and are hoping for successful hatchings in a few months. I look for them on every ramble and pay special attention to the little creek that runs near the road. I know from experience that they bury themselves in the mud when the weather is hot.
It’s been an odd year so far, especially since my mom passed in April. I went to Roswell, NM, for her memorial service in May but still find myself thinking, “I have to tell Mom that the lightning bugs are out…the blackberries are ripe…my garden is finally coming in…” After years of talking and laughing with her for several years, it’s been hard to adjust.
The weather has sometimes been cooler than normal, then hotter. We had too much rain and then not enough. But I still walk almost every day, and I remain grateful for my life in this little Hollow. I’ll try to post more about it before too long.
French Broad Hollow Ramble 