“Leap of Faith ~ Red Fox and Jewelweed,” copyright Susan A. Walton, Hudson, Florida.

This is a wildlife artwork in progress.

A Red Fox leaps about a creek bank which is covered in masses of orange, native Spotted Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis) and white Button Snakeroot. This art piece is a tapestry of details, right down to early morning dewdrops.

Jewelweed grew all along a certain little dry season creek where, when I was very young, was fond of playing. I witnessed many a battle between hummingbird males who had established territories along its route, to guard the patches of jewelweed, an incredibly rich nectar resource. The creek also attracted other animals, including both grey and red foxes, which were there not for the jewelweed or spice bush but to hunt meadow voles or perhaps an occasional cottontail rabbit.

The Red Fox’s method of hunting is to listen carefully, cocking the head to one side to better detect its position, before leaping up and over hidden prey.

One morning, Mom, who had gone outside just before sunrise, came in and woke us up, signaling with a gesture not to make a sound and pointing towards the heavy and age-rippled glass door.

We crept outside in time to see this Red Fox leaping so much along the creek that it seemed it was more interested in the exercise than in actually trying to catch anything.

Reflecting on the memory a few days later, as I walked through masses of delicate jewelweed, sending sprays of iridescent dewdrops in all directions, I was intrigued by the way water dances on the highly water-repellent leaves. (Water behaves differently on jewelweed than on most other plants.) I had to wonder if the fox had just been enjoying the act of scattering droplets, too. Energetic, like mercury in a lab dish, morning dew on jewelweed can be a breathtaking sight.

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