i swear to you that this is a photo, not an illustration, and that it is essentially unretouched. i discovered a tiny patch of ferns along the edge of my yard this fall that began slowly turning color in this haphazard, feather-like way. i have no idea how or why. i just know that, once again, the beauty and variety of nature fills me with wonder and disbelief.

ostrich fern leaflets in late october

turtle lake, saint paul, minnesota