Frosted Fiddleheads

Went to check out how some colonies held up after the frost.

 Can you see the wilted nettles on the left side of the photo?

As you can see our friends aren't fans of the cold.

Foraging for Fiddleheads: Part IV

After the heads unravel this much picking is over for these plants.

Cheers!

Foraging for Fiddleheads: Part III

Here is a head that could be picked.

 Now these are some prime little buggers to bring home.

 After the heads get taller then they are here you want to leave them be.
 

Foraging for Fiddleheads: Part II

Photo 1

Here is a view of the mound as the heads mature.

Photo 2

Photo 3

 Usually within 24 hours these heads will be ready to pick.

The time period between photo 1 and photos 2 & 3 is hard to judge.  Influencing factors are soil, location, and weather in my experience.

Foraging for Fiddleheads: Part I

In early spring after the snow melts look for fern mounds.

From this view the dried fronds indicate the flow of the former flood waters.

 

Here is a closer look.

 Sometimes all you see is the fronds sticking up from under the silt.

These photos were taken from the 2011 season our wettest season to date.