St Ann’s Provincial Park along the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, was just springing into life after a cold winter when we visited earlier this year. It was a brief stop for a picnic lunch on our way from the Cape Breton Highlands National Park to the Louisbourg area on the east coast. The parkĀ lies on the northern shore of the stretch of water known as North Gut, and has a short trail leading to a look-offĀ where there are views overĀ the saltmarsh and St Ann’s Bay. We did not have time to venture very far down the trail but, even by the car park, there was plenty to enjoy.
Bright green ferns of various types were uncurling their fronds. The compacted fern buds are called fiddleheads. Particular varieties in some localities are a feature on menus at this time of the year (we tried some and they were delicious). Golden mosses covered the ground, whileĀ bladed marsh plants were breaking through theĀ winter’s debris on the water margin. Delicate white blossoms quivered on trees of the woodland edge. The greatest delight was catching sight of a snake making its way through the leaf litter. I am not certain what sort but it might possibly be a Maritime Garter Snake.
Jessica's Nature Blog 
Great pics š Do you think I could try some of our local fiddleheads here in Wales come the Spring or are the ones you tried a particular edible type?
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Thank you. Not all fern fiddleheads are edible. For example, those of bracken are poisonous. Wikipedia lists fern species commonly eaten. You would need to do a bit of investigation before eating any fern heads to identify them correctly and make sure they were safe to eat.
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Don’t worry – I’m unlikely to try them here and if I do it will only be after thorough investigation. Thanks š
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Fantastic finds on just a short stop for lunch Jessica, especially the snake. I would be thrilled to see something like that in the wild. Not likely here of course due to St Patrick’s distaste for them š
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Dear Jessica,Ā Ā Ā Just trying to add a comment to your latest post but when I’d finished it wanted a URL. Ā Ā Don’t have one or know quite what it is. Ā Any way, lovely photos especially like the Onoclea type ones. Angela
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The snake was a special find. I was lucky that it stayed still long enough for the photographs. I guess it was a bit cold and slow.
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Thank you, Angela. I didn’t know the names of the plants so I have learnt something. Sorry you had a problem with making your comment. The URL is basically a web address or internet link.
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