I almost missed fiddlehead season but was able to get out Sunday and collect a few that were still curled up tight.
I’ve heard there are a few edible species but we only harvest the ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris. I love them lightly battered and fried (after blanching) or pickled to go in bloody marys.
I planted a few a couple years ago that had been uprooted by an overzealous road grader. They’re still going strong but haven’t spread yet. In the woods we usually find them growing close to the road where they can get out from under the tree canopy a bit.