Next

Pieces of things persist, like pieces of my sanity. I've probably had too much caffeine, nicotine and sugar and not enough sustenance. Too much liftin', totin' and shovelin' leads to an arm and hand that goes numb with a painful tingling. Plenty of rest in the wrong position aggravates that nerve that must be pinched in my shoulder. A few other nerves have been pinched of late. I'll persist.


















In the naked forest the ferns have not given up after lows in the twenties several times, a few bouts of tiny frozen pellets and the first snow. This tells me that drifts of ferns will be a good choice for winter interest in the garden.














The native Putty Root Orchid, Aplectrum hyemale is spread in drifts all across this mountain. It is reappearing for a second time from beneath the thick layer of leaves that buried them after their initial emergence. It persists as long as it has a native habitat undisturbed. My book warns not to collect them in the wild. They are not likely to survive. I can garden around them and spread the seed to places where I would like to have them.














And what is this? Some new offering to the winter forest floor is emerging in droves. I will have to watch what it does and look for clues to its identity.














I'm the next two poles on the line. Tomorrow will be the big day perhaps. With driveway access, existing smooth ground, tidy surroundings and orange flags marking "Do not Disturb", those things I hope will persist after the coming disturbance wait in anticipation.














I do some things thinking they will persist for a time and then move on to the next thing.