Down in the shady woodland
Where the fern fronds are uncurled,
A host of green umbrellas
Are swiftly now unfurled.
Do they shelter fairy people
From sudden pelting showers
Or are the leaves but sunshades
To shield the waxen flowers?
"Mandrakes" by Minnie Curtis Wait
I thought this was a good poem for today....
Tuesday, the sun came out and melted off more snow. Charlie and I headed to the woods to see how the rest of the fences faired out. We wanted to see if the Virginia Spring Beauties were still around and look for other signs that Spring was coming despite the snowfall.
I was surprised that the electric lines were just fine except in the places where the deer had knocked them off their insulators. I took an insulator count for replacement.
We found Pheasant Back mushrooms forming on a tree that fell over the winter.
This surely was a sign of spring!
In fact we had to sit down on the forest floor and get a closer look:
When we did, we found this in the leaves!
And we found Mayapples or as my Grandmother called them Maypole flowers. I don't know why but she did.
Of course there was Frank the Trooper Dude who decided to sit on a log and get in touch with Nature. He brought Birdie and they relaxed in the sunlight.
Hobby found some leeks or wild ramps just above the creek where water was actually flowing this Spring from the bountiful moisture and the snow melts.
Soon it will be time to walk along the creek and gather wild parsnip roots for a fresh veggie to be seasoned with wild garlic and some wild ramps. The parsnip and wild garlic are invasive species but eatable so why not eat them?
Wild parsnip roots:
Spring culinary delights await in the woods.