I've become quite the little pteridophile since I started my garden project. Ferns are so incredibly easy to grow and look after. I have deciduous ones like the Matteuccia struthiopteris, which will throw up rigid dark brown fronds in the winter before resuming normal service in the spring. I have distinctly un-fern-like ferns like the Asplenium scolopendrium or hart's tongue fern. I have ones that will be turn different colours, like Dryopteris erythrosora and Athyrium niponicum. And I have ones that will grow almost anywhere, like the Asplenium trichomanes, which I first saw in a cave in Derbyshire.
But of my little ferns, I think my favourite is Dryopteris sieboldii (by the way - like my ammonite?):
When I first saw it I immediately saw dinosaur footprints in every frond. And more specifically, theropod (carnivorous bipedal evil dinosaur) footprints. Much like these theropod tracks on the Arizona-Utah border:
I'm always on the look out for new ferns. I'll be exhausting the garden centres first before moving on to specialist nurseries (because I really like to see what I'm buying if possible). It's probably a little short-sighted of me to grow damp-loving plants when our climate is moving towards generally drier conditions, but while our landlord won't get the gutter fixed I may as well enjoy making use of the free daily watering.
I'm just back from my weekend away (no planting in my friend's garden as there was gossip to be caught up on and tea to be drunk), and it was a long drive, so I will bid you a good night and answer comments in the morning.
But of my little ferns, I think my favourite is Dryopteris sieboldii (by the way - like my ammonite?):
When I first saw it I immediately saw dinosaur footprints in every frond. And more specifically, theropod (carnivorous bipedal evil dinosaur) footprints. Much like these theropod tracks on the Arizona-Utah border:
I'm always on the look out for new ferns. I'll be exhausting the garden centres first before moving on to specialist nurseries (because I really like to see what I'm buying if possible). It's probably a little short-sighted of me to grow damp-loving plants when our climate is moving towards generally drier conditions, but while our landlord won't get the gutter fixed I may as well enjoy making use of the free daily watering.
I'm just back from my weekend away (no planting in my friend's garden as there was gossip to be caught up on and tea to be drunk), and it was a long drive, so I will bid you a good night and answer comments in the morning.
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