fern sleeping

A little chillier today, but still clear and dry. I spent more time inside than out, since it was the official day of the Epiphany, which is also the day and night that you're supposed to "break up Christmas" and get the tree and ornaments down and put away. We did get the tree outside, but there's still more to do before we can call it a season. While I was moving the tree to its new home—stacked next to the red Witch Hazel to serve as a bird shelter and feeding hide-out—I noticed that the recent heavy rains had unearthed some future ferns. They looked much like formerly subterranean eggs, and inside each one is a coiled up pteridophyte. "Hatching" is several months off. Even unexpectedly exposed, the plants won't emerge until April. I think I'll cover them with Christmas tree boughs for protection.