Most ferns unfold their fronds
beneath the trees in shady glades.
Along the winding roads
in the Olympic peninsula
ferns view a new perspective,
rooting into the moss
that wraps and drapes the trees.
Instead of remaining on forest floor the fern explore
the sights and sounds high above ground
the wind blown coast
the ocean salt.
Some ferns take advantage of a willing host
to see more of the world.
Their lives may be shorter
and less spread out,
but their perspective is expansive
without a doubt.
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I was astounded to see what I’d call a Boston fern growing all along the roads, from the mossy trunks of all sorts of trees between Forks and Port Angeles* in Washington State. Huge ones were beneath the trees on the shady side of the road, but on the west side of the road, where the moss was thickest on the trees, the same ferns were growing from out of the moss all the way up the trunks. I didn’t see huge established ferns, just single fronds unfurled on the trees, but dozens on each tree. It kind of reminded me of being an exchange student, taking root in a new location, and seeing the world from a different view. 🙂
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*This is the road that Edward Cullen takes at ridiculous speeds in his Volvo in the Twilight books. Personally, I don’t think even someone with supernatural powers should be driving faster than 60 miles/hr on that road! 😉
Shawn L. Bird 