Onoclea sensibilis is one of the many spring highlights of my rainy morning walk. Commonly called sensitive fern, it's one of the most distinctive ferns thriving along the brook that runs through our woods to spill into the Charles. I love how its shining stalk of brown beads will endure as a beautiful decoration of the brook's swampy wetlands in winter. But, standing in spring rain, here, in the emerald brook, is how I love beaded fern best.

All photos and text copyright Kelly DuMar 2017