HeadGardener's Journal

Last Post 327 days 13 hours ago

Dont you just love Ferns?

28 June 2012 19:20:54

Fernery

Well I love ferns and I know there are many other admirers out there. Now I know you might think that one fern looks pretty like the next and there's not much variety but I dare anyone to look at my new photo albumn on ferns and not tell me theres a vast difference between many ferns.

Now of course it's hard to tell the difference between one fern and another sometimes unless you label well or are an expert but once you have them together you can often see the subtle differences between them.

Last year I created a fernery to display many of my ferns to good effect now I find i could nearly do with a second one as I've run out of space in it but not my enthusiasm for collecting them :)

If you haven't any ferns in your garden then try at least one there dead easy low maintenance and in the right spot will reward you for most of the year .. expecially for those damp dark spots people always seem to have...

Just to say I know there were site issues but to load the photos in the album was an adventure for the whole afternoon... school holidays tomorrow.. having a stiff drink tonight to brace myself :D

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Elizabeth7 28 June 2012 19:28:10

Bill your pics are a fabulous reference for ferns. What a huge variety you have . I look forward to your visit and some suggestions as to where I might set up a second Fern area. Personally I don't like keeping them in pots.

Myrtle 28 June 2012 19:28:37

What a collection! and all the names! I have only 2 and I'd have to look up my photos to even remember their names :)

fran m 28 June 2012 19:45:05

Bill, Great photos. I'm with you all the way on this issue as well you know.

I'll join you with a drink, no reason really, don't like to see a man drinking alone ;-))

Hi to the troops, and hope they enjoy the hols ;-)

kitty 28 June 2012 20:07:57

i love ferns bill and glad you got photos uploaded trying since lunchtime and no luck. i fallen in love with them and bought some this year as well to add to my shady area. i am the same as myrtle i wouldnt have a clue as to their names off to see your photos i have a picture in my album of some of mine when i get to upload them

ladygardener 28 June 2012 20:08:01

That's a great resource you just gave us Bill, I'll be going back to your album again and again. Unfortunately the digger driver I had recently, who was so obliging and fearful of harming a nasturtium, was not as careful with ferns, and they were in a dark corner like native ferns would be so you couldn't blame him they got squashed. 'Ghost is one I would like a mass of I have the right spot I must google the condidtions.

kitty 28 June 2012 20:11:59

wow im green with envy pardon the pun. and to know the names yikes i love the grey ones alot will have to go hunting for some different ones as i think they are so woodlandy and i love that theme

Elizabeth7 28 June 2012 20:14:44

It would be great if we had a special area on the site for storing photo references like this to save having to go back through journals.

Gracedieu Lass 28 June 2012 20:26:42

A great collection of ferns and they look great in the area that you decided to plant them. Mary

andyf7 28 June 2012 21:37:05

a mere 59 ferns bill, :-) you do like your ferns and thats for sure, just to let you know,

the 6th last fern did not upload for you. fantastic collection, with more to follow id say.

corktony 28 June 2012 21:39:47

great album - thanks

TheH (Hazel) 28 June 2012 22:52:29

Beautiful collection of ferns and the photos with full names is really helpful!

HeadGardener 29 June 2012 00:33:48

Thanks everyone I did the album as much for my own reference as anything else :D Thanks Fran not into drinking alone normally :D Anne Athyrium nipp. 'Ghost' like lots of ferns like moist soil in shade. However when english books say dry its really dry and when they say moist the meet moderatly moist (and not boggy) irish weather suits ferns very well and Athryium ghost grows well for silver foliage I would also recommend Athyrium nipp Pictum (the Japanese painted Fern) and Atryium otophorum 'Okanum'. Thanks Andy bet it that dryopteris felix mas pic had real trouble with that, some of the pics are fuzzy but will try to replace with better pics when I can

Spideog 29 June 2012 02:29:27

Lovely looking fernery, Bill - seems to have filled out nicely. Love the edging and all the rocks, too - very naturalistic - well done! ;D

MartinB 30 June 2012 08:45:59

Looking good Bill and will look even better when they fill out :-)

MartinB 30 June 2012 08:51:35

Will have to give some babies on next meet up.

Dick 03 July 2012 23:00:26

Bill, You are leaving us all in the shade:)

Scrubber 31 July 2012 14:53:46

Was going to say 'No I just drive through it!' but didnt. Sr Josephine would have you wash your mouth out with soap as I am sure there are a few swear words in among all those titles! Seriously though many thanks for a wonderful descritive phoo session. I had no idea of the variety of all of those ferns. many thanks indeed. You is de MAN!

Scrubber 06 March 2013 15:27:02

Good to see you back on line again. Dont worry about swallowing frogs. A bit at a time does it just as well.! Hope you are keeping well.

MartinB 06 March 2013 21:20:38

Yes thank you

HeadGardener 06 March 2013 23:23:23

Peter and Martin thanks for that :D

Johnplotman 30 March 2013 19:07:14

Good luck with all your section of ferns,Bill.I have a fern in the garden here [cleaned out a garden about 18 months ago ] and in the summer you can give me its name.I left it in a long tub.