It is an ever changing world out there. In the woods and fields the snow still clings in places. Last years leaves carpet the ground and peeking through them are signs of greens. Rosettes of this years plants, started last fall, living through the bitter cold, to spring to life as soon as the sun reaches them. It gives these plants a head start on their fellows. Before the rest of the foliage fills in these spring plants rise up from the brown, bloom quickly, and spend the rest of the summer and fall just hanging out in the shadows.

To find signs of life look for disturbed soil, it's dark color heats up faster and seeds germinate quickly. The south sides of hills and woods have mostly melted off, providing good walking. Down along the edges of the fens and swamps the springs and seeps are running as usual. With the grass pressed down from the weight of winter it is easier to see where these originate. A bit of mud where animals have come to drink. Water trickling through well worn paths. In some of these wet places water cress if in full production. A favorite spring green for people in times past, it provided needed nutrients after a long Minnesota winter with no access to fresh produce and greens. While I wouldn't recommend eating it out of most standing water, where it grows at the very beginnings of springs, in land that is not polluted, it is pretty safe.

The mosses are really the highlight of any walk these days. Patches of green in the brown. I came home with a pocket full the other day. I had a moment when I reached in to empty my pockets at the end of the walk, forgetting I had moss in it, and was concerned why my pocket and something wet and soft in it! It goes into my mossarium for later identification. It also gives me a place to stick my nose and inhale that rich, earthy growing smell that I miss so much in the depths of winter.

The sandhills are back, their prehistoric calls echoing across the empty fields. The ravens are nesting in the pines by Susies cabin. I try to give them their space and let them carry one. Waterfowl are on the river, impatiently waiting for the lakes to open up. It won't be long and the warblers will be here.

Take walks, drink in the sunshine, and just breathe...

Photo Ann Luloff. A mossy mini forest in the woods.