After yesterday's somber image, here is something a little more uplifting. While driving around some backwoods settlements in central Florida, I came upon this sheltered little field. It was totally covered in the softest looking fern bed I had ever seen. They looked so green and fuzzy that I had to take a photo. Resizing has unfortunately caused much of the fine detail to be lost, but I hope you get the general idea. I'd like to dedicate this one to Rita (sossy), who's lush landscapes are always a joy to view. Thanks for stopping by, comments are always welcome and appreciated! Olympus C8080 and PhotoshopCS ---- Osmunda Regalis (Royal Fern) - bipinnate frond Description: openly branched fronds; pinnule edges serrated; mature fronds 2-5' tall, 10-20" wide; stipe half the frond length; light green; smallest separate leaflets have unlobed regular pinnules Rhizome: short-creeping Spores: sporangia are borne on a separate reduced pinnae at the top of vegetative fronds (center photo); greenish before maturity (center photo) and turning red-brown (right photo) and withering with age Veins: free Growth: grows in terrestrial clumps on wet and moist grounds; prefers shady to partly shady (from Audobon.org)