Fawning over this new baby in the garden

May 31, 2018


As my daughter pulled the trash bin out to the driveway yesterday, bumping it along the stepping-stone path, she nearly stepped on a newborn fawn who was trying hard to remain unseen.


He or she lay half concealed amid the variegated flax lily lining the path, a white-spotted rump and a flash of white tail the only giveaway as to its presence. In the dappled light of the live oaks, it was good camouflage.


My daughter was only a step or two away when she saw the fawn and froze herself, then slowly backed away. The baby never moved a muscle.


We had a houseful of guests, and we all trooped out to take a quiet look. Baby remained put, just like Mama said.


When I checked on the fawn later, it had shifted positions but was still in its flax lily bed. By dusk, however, it was gone, off with its mother, who had returned from her errands to pick up Junior. Such a sweet little face with a black nose. I wonder if we’ll see it again.

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20 responses to “Fawning over this new baby in the garden”

  1. Alison says:

    Oh, those enormous eyes! Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos.

  2. ks says:

    Well now that is one cute little guy/gal. Between your owlets and now your deer-et you have quite the habitat going there !

  3. Renee says:

    Cute! And the camouflage must be pretty good to remain so well hidden.

  4. Noelle says:

    Oh, what a lovely discovery! I almost wouldn’t mind a visit from Junior once it got older, even if it ate a few plants. ?

    • Pam/Digging says:

      If only they had dainty appetites. Actually, in my garden, it’s the antlering damage to my agaves by the bucks that I find more pesky.

  5. Jenni says:

    Nature has paid you a beautiful compliment!

  6. Kris P says:

    So cute! I’m impressed s/he stayed put. Coming across a fawn is so much nicer than crossing paths with a coyote!

  7. Lisa at Greenbow says:

    Awwww, what a sweet baby to have in your garden. We were once visiting family and a fawn this size nestled down into a spot in their garden right outside a picture window. Funny how you can sit and stare for such a long time at a fawn resting. We eventually had to leave and walked right by the fawn lugging suitcases. It stayed put. An amazing feeling getting so close to one.

  8. Very cute and who doesn’t love a baby! That said….we have a no deer policy here although they have not yet gotten the word. LOL

  9. Ha! Hiding well. I saw a deer Wed mountain biking and another before sundown near me, as I drove to hike from the trailhead. They must be actively looking for new gardens to munch on and our dry period.

  10. hb says:

    What an exquisitely beautiful baby.

    I knew you had deer in your neighborhood but after seeing it on the Fling I thought: really? Seemed too build-up for deer. Yet–there they are.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      They sure are. They are quite happy in established neighborhoods throughout the west side of Austin because of the greenbelts and canyons.