The return of color marks the return of life in many forms. Bigleaf maple trees were especially vigorous in sprouting from their bases. Many understory plants were completely burned away above ground, but in the soil their root structures were protected and insulated from the fire. Within two months these intact, but unseen, root systems burst forth with green, leafy vibrance that was easy to see in the monochromatic landscape. Ferns and even delicate oxalis (sorrel) were among the first to sprout. Fire-adapted species – fire fungi, fire moss, fire weed – quickly established from propagules in the soil and widely dispersed spores and seed.

These many forms of life and the organic matter they contribute to the forest floor helped stabilize the soil, attract other organisms, and build the nutrient and carbon capital to support the nascent food web in the next forest. As the organic layer developed, we began to see insects, hear birds, and find scat, all indications of a healthy complexity.

Tree seedlings took root, even in the first year – a sign of the forest to come.