Babyhood
Fiddlehead ferns start to spring up just after the forsythia and around the time of wild violets in Maine. Tightly-wound and Kelly green, these delicacies can be foraged and harvested along roadsides. The "fiddleheads" (so named because the fern's leaves start out all rolled up in what looks like the scroll of a violin) may be snipped from the stems, and sauteed with garlic, butter, salt, and pepper. Yum! They have a texture like asparagus, but with a waxy smoothness.
But what's even more delicious, is to leave these beauties alone along the roadside to watch them unfurl as the days grow balmy. With their tiny leaves reaching up to the sky, these ferns remind me of innocent newborns flailing about, waiting to be drawn into a parents' arms and snuggled.
This little pop of spring has been one of my favorite watercolors to paint. This is my smallest giclee print available and makes for cheery decor in a baby nursery, kitchen, or even in the bathroom. Bring a bit of springtime inside your home to lift your mood all year long.
5x7" Archival Giclee Printed on Fine Art Photographic Paper