The ferns are sprouting along the roadside. Curled into fiddleheads, they will soon unfurl to greet springtime. This group reminds me of a huddle of school children, heads together on the playground, planning a game.

Yesterday I planted pansies in bright pots. My grandfather used to bring us flats of them every spring. He delighted in their jewel tones and was especially drawn to the ones that had what he called, "Little faces" on the petals. He is always on my mind when I see pansies nodding cheerily in a warm spring breeze.

Eating Ferns....

In Maine, we go crazy for fiddle heads in the spring. These tightly coiled baby ferns are a special, edible type, harvested from damp, wooded areas. They are delicious. I saute mine in olive oil and garlic, then steam them until tender. They are a bit like eating fresh asparagus. Rachel and I delight in them, Chris finds them "icky."