Sensitive fiddleheads

The morning broke raw and chilly, but at least it was relatively dry—perfect for an amphibian surveying trip to the Thomas Miner Preserve, where the volunteer Corps of Discovery had started our second year of monitoring the flora and fauna of the refuge. My first objective was to check in on the vernal pools, and I learned that the Wood Frog eggs had hatched and there were numerous tadpoles swimming about. The Spotted Salamanders, of course, were a good month away from hatching, but there were no signs of Marbled or Four-toed Salamander larvae. While I'll keep looking, it may be that the drought kept the Marbleds away from the ponds last fall and winter. The Four-toeds, however, could still arrive in the next month. To finish my trek, I walked back up the seasonal creek connecting the vernals. The water was broken by the emergence of Horsetails and fern fiddleheads of various sizes, textures, and shapes. I was captivated by some floral artistry created by Sensitive Fern fiddleheads in the process of unfurling. This species doesn't mind having wet feet, so the recent floods haven't slowed it down at all.