April 28

Things are beginning to appear now at an increasing pace, as the weather warms the soil with the sun inching higher in its inclination.

A towhee arrived at the feeder this afternoon, jumping about and backscratching in their way to locate seed. We were doing work on our back deck, which desperately needed sanding and a bit of refinishing for protection, when we first heard the bird’s scuffle scuffle in the dried leaves on the berm between the feeder and the access road. Then we saw it take flight to the feeder area, giving a nice view of its markings of orange and black with white pips here and there. These are comical birds to watch search for food, as their back scratch hop reminds me of an old jitterbug dance step, where you jump back and at an angle with two feet, then jump forward at a different angle.

We took the dogs for a walk later in the afternoon, down the hill toward Robinson’s Greenhouse, then further on to where lower Grove flattens in an area with wetlands on both sides. When the leaves come out fully in a few weeks, this portion of the road will be shaded nearly through, and it is a respite from the heat that builds in the summer sun.

Poking up from the deadfall leaves on both sides of the road are fiddleheads, dozens of them maybe five inches high and curled right over in preparation of opening and spreading their broad leaves. These are cinnamon ferns, which tend to prefer the low land areas and moister conditions. I’m told the fiddleheads in their juvenile state are edible, and connoisseurs boil the tender curls to cook the leaves.

Several weeks from now these ferns will have expanded fully, and the surrounding woods will have leafed, creating a darkened and primeval feeling.