Yesterday, as Jim stepped out the back door with his camera, with the intent of taking photos of flowers, he was startled to see another subject to photograph. I don’t believe he ever did take any new flower photos!
A deer emerged on the edge of the garden after coming up from the stream area in back of our home / Siberian Iris and Peonies can be seen in this photo.
We never know when wildlife will visit our 7/8 acre piece of heaven. Over the years, our wildlife-friendly yard has hosted many species from mink to fox, opposum, skunks, raccoons, wild turkeys, toads, snakes, and birds of all kinds, interesting insects and beautiful butterflies and larger animals such as deer. Apparently, deer have a keen sense of smell. They always like the rose bushes and, in particular, rose “hips” to munch on. At this time of year, I am not sure any dried rose hips remain from last year’s blooms but something did attract this particular visitor to head straight for the Rugosa Roses that line the interior of a white fence that borders the city sidewalk.
This deer did not linger long, perhaps alarmed by the traffic or noise in the street. At last count, 20,000 cars travel this road on any given day.
Having briefly explored the possibilities, the deer bounded back to the slope that descends to the old mill stream. the source of power for a woolen mill next door during the Civil War. In the unedited version of the next photo, the eyes of the deer look like bright lights glowing in the darkness of the wooded slope. I know that she or her friends will be back. I just hope that deer don’t enjoy nibbling on the daisies, and most especially, the flowering annuals that Jim planted!
deer headed to a more protected environment
