Finally Seeing What Has Always Been There

This last day of March has been a disappointment.  With rain in the cold air, we have largely resisted the temptation to work in the garden. While we were out there, protective cages were placed over emerging plants to keep the deer away.  Because we hunger for early color in the garden, these Winter Aconites hold a prominent spot in our shade garden despite their nonnative origin.  So far our deer have shown no interest in these early plants.  Cold rain is pulling many plants to finally appear above the soil.

This Hemlock tree fell across the lane two decades ago.  Our neighbor at the time had a camping trailer where a house now stands.  He also had a chain saw and removed the fallen tree.  The pieces of tree were thrown on my side of the right-of-way regardless of the tree's original position.  Now this rotting wood supports a generous growth of moss.  For the past twenty years I have failed to see the beauty that was directly in front of me.  I feel fortunate to have finally really seen these amazing plants.  Soon this rotten wood will be carefully moved to our developing woodland garden.  There it will edge a path intending to keep careless feet from walking on native plants.

A careful look at any of the dead leaves will reveal tiny dark dots.  These are Springtails so named after their means of moving about.  Their rear mounted appendage snaps sending them airborne with absolutely no control over direction.  An enlargement of the photo will reveal their presence everywhere.  They live in moss and can be seen there but they also are on every pictured surface.  We have known about Springtails for many years since their newly emerged bodies fill every foot print left in warming late winter snow with black wiggling specks.

We did drive to the garden near the forest to repair the ties fastening the protective fence to the posts.  The garlic is emerging and fortunately no animals entered the garden through the opening.  While we were back there we did take a drive to have a look around.  A huge section of the meadow adjacent to the bedrock ridge was flooded.  This water does not travel to nearby lower ground but slowly disappears into the thawing deep gravel deposit left by the last glacier.  We found this stone higher up in the woods and moved it to the garden down by the road.  We are finally seeing the beauty on moss and lichen covered rocks.  Previously, I have only seen stones that could be used to build solid walls.  I cannot be bothered with finding their proper moss and lichen names but have become aware of their diversity and tenacious growth habits.  Fortunately we did not miss getting to know and appreciate these ancient life forms.