Mysterious Fronds

The ferns are starting to wake. They look almost insect like when the emerge.
There is a folklore tale about the fern. It is said that at midnight go to the dark and deep woods. Look there and you may find a fern flowering. This is a magic flower. It is said to give the finder the power to see beneath the earth to other realms. The realms where treasures are hidden. Good fortune will shine on the finder. Beware this magical flower is said to sometimes be guarded by the devil.

Adder's Tounge

Adder's Tongue(Erythronium americanum) is also known as Trout Lily or Dogtooth Violet. A magical herb which is actually a member of the lily family. You will find these beauties forming very large colonies in moist rich woods. Their leaves give them away the shape is of an Adder's Tongue and does look very reptilian. The molting also looks similar to a trout's markings.
Adder's Tongue also has a Magic history in literature.

In Macbeth (IV, i, 14-15)
2nd Witch
"Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and howelt's wing--
For a charm of trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble."
- Shakespeare

In Ben Jonson's Masque of Queens
in this verse
"I ha' been plucking, plants among,
Hemlock, henbane, adder's tongue,
Night shade, moonwort, libbard's-bane."

Adder' Tongue can be found in speciality bulb catalogs. They come in yellow, pink and white forms. I don't suggest digging them from the wild. After all their name is Adder's Tongue so be careful!

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel was the last blooming shrub in my yard before Jack Frost and Grandmother Winter showed up. This Autumn bloomer has wonderful spidery yellow flowers. Also known as Winter bloom for that reason.

So how did Witch Hazel get it's name? No not from the cartoon character. It has been associated with Witches and Magic for centuries. It's branches can be used as divining rods. Folklore states you can find enchanted underground wells and even buried treasure. I haven't tried this yet but I'll let you know if it works! Parts of this shrub were also used in healing and protection spells.
The astringent Witch Hazel does indeed come from this shrub.

I'm lucky to have many native Witch Hazel's growing in our surrounding woods. I do know Native plant nurseries carry Witch Hazel. The species I have is Hamamelis Virginiana. Witch Hazel is bound to enchant your Garden!