The fern stems are starting to emerge in the woods like little groups of happy mummies glad to arise again. Their fronds usually are rolled tightly into fiddlehead-shapes and covered with protective hair-like growths.
Once mature, some of these fiddleheads will be delicacies. Here in the northeast, a favorite spring vegetable serving is ostrich fern fiddleheads (Matteuccia struthiopteris). Note, however, that some ferns are very poisonous; don’t use any for food unless you’re sure that it’s edible and don’t eat any raw – there are plenty of recipes on the Internet.
(Image taken in Brooklin, Maine, on April 28, 2023.) Click on image to enlarge it.