Ooh, what an unusual sunflower.

Annie...I'm very curious about the rear end of that doe. For all intents and purposes...she looks like a white tailed, Eastern U.S. doe...with the exception of her striped hind end. It's a beautiful shot but I'd love more info about the subject when you have a moment. Thanks.

:) I did a double take on that striped deer, too, Winter. The enlarged version of the photo (when the posted one is clicked) more clearly shows her not to be part okapi.

Bachelor herd near our house

Is that just the plant making the deer’s hind quarters look striped?

I don't see Stripes on the deer. I do see a green weed that she is walking past. I think it appears that the plant is part of the deer.

we got see a fawn this morning. Wish I'd had a camera.

Outsideplaying! Do you know that name of that sunflower? Is it tall, I mean really tall? Like 8 feet? I have two volunteers that look exactly like it. I'm only keeping them for the birds. But they're amazing! So tall and so many blooms on it. I think I'll keep the seed. The only burgundy sunflower I did grow there was Moulin Rouge (same spot), but it was years ago??? I wish I knew the name.

Raven and Sabbath...I think you're right. Thank you. I just enlarged the photo by 200% and there is a plant of some variety "climbing" up her back side. Old eyes play tricks on me from time-to-time. But that still doesn't explain the swollen white sections of her hind side. Not knowing where the photo was taken or what time of year it was taken...I can't speculate what's causing her swollen rear. She sure is pretty though.

It is a white-tailed deer. There's a tall weed that she's standing behind which makes it look like a striped rump, but it's not. The "stripes" continue down the left leg which are just more leaves on the weed stalk.

I took the shot a couple of days ago. There's no swelling on her rump...she's holding her tail down and you're seeing the fur fluff out from behind her tail. Same deer, different shot:

Thank you, Annie. I thought she might be ready to drop...but not at this time of year. She's just wonderfully healthy. That's nice to see.

Rob I will look when I get home. I can’t recall if it was part of a packet of mixed sunflowers or if I planted 2 types. I am not at home at the moment so it will be tomorrow before I can find the seed pack.