Rattlesnake uncovered

It's ridiculously warm—low- to mid-50s—and that, coupled with nearly an inch of almost-April-feeling rain has eaten all the snow. The skis and snowshoes are back in storage, and I'm half-thinking about walking my daily trek in sneakers. Still, boots are de rigeur, since the ground is soft and spongy, and I can really use the extra hill-climbing traction when I'm hiking up muddy trails. I can also use the stability, since I'm now spending a lot of time focusing on the real estate beneath my feet. Plants lost underneath the white blanket are now visible and looking up at me.  A fine example of uncovery is this handsome Rattlesnake Plantain that I'd seen earlier in the year along the trail. It's actually a kind of orchid, a Goodyera, and though a little bedraggled from its winter travails, it'll perk up once the growing season starts.