Finnish tradition holds that one who finds the “seed” of a fern in bloom on Midsummer night will, by possession of it, be guided and be able to travel invisibly to the locations where eternally blazing Will o’ the wisps called aarnivalkea mark the spot of hidden treasure. These spots are protected by a spell that prevents anyone but the fern-seed holder from ever knowing their locations…
… so if I should disappear, just know I may be off in pursuit of hidden treasures!
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While taking a break from browsing through my photo collection, I thought I’d share an update on my ongoing hillside fern project. Last fall, I started this project by transplanting some Boston Ferns from pots. Unfortunately, out of the three, only one shows slight signs of life. I had also ordered and planted seven fern roots, but it appears that only one of those also survived. I suspect the single-digit temperature cold snap we had last winter might have been why they didn’t survive, as I may not have planted them deep enough, and they froze. It’s not a very successful start.
In light of my failed attempts last autumn, I planted seven ferns this spring, all thriving. I now have seven healthy ferns, one root plant that survived and a barely alive transplanted Boston fern. The fern varieties include:
- Japanese Painted Fern (Pictured Below);
- Braun’s Holly Fern (Pictured Below);
- Marginal Wood Fern (Pictured Below);
- Autumn Fern (Pictured Below);
- Boston Fern (Not Pictured); and
- Ostrich Fern (Not Pictured)
I’m considering adding new plants and varieties in the fall and spring seasons. However, my main hope is for the current lot to survive and potentially multiply in the future.
This summer, I’ll be helping that hope along by watering and preventing the poison ivy/oak from regaining control over the hillside. Once they’re established, they should be nearly maintenance-free.
I’m not sure why I’m drawn to ferns, but I find them interesting to photograph.
- Previous Reference – Spring Iris and Projects – April 2nd, 2023
We also love ferns! We have primarily ostrich ferns and maidenhair. Coincidentally, we went to a farm-to-table restaurant just a few days ago for our anniversary – and I was excited that they had ostrich fern fiddleheads on the menu. I’ve read that these can be quite good.
Unfortunately, they were completely out of them when we went. :( So maybe next year when the ferns are coming up, or we try to harvest some of our own.
Ostrich ferns are spreading like crazy in our yard. Quite prolific! Nearly all of the photos I’ve taken of them are from my yard, I should probably spend time doing more.
I’ve heard of fern fiddleheads being eatable, but I’ve not been to a restaurant that served them. Perhaps I don’t travel in high enough circles. ;-) I hope some of these ferns become as prolific as your Ostrich Ferns. Happy belated anniversary!
This is a wonderful series of images. I also am drawn to them as subjects and realizing they are more than that. They do add beauty to our world but their place in or world goes way beyond that. I was not aware they were something we can eat. Seems your hillside fern project is turning into a beautiful haven for contemplation, meditation, or a walk. Would love to see such a place in my yard. Thank you for sharing and looking forward to further updates and photos.
Thanks, Monte. This started as a simple act of transplanting a few potted ferns and has now grown more significant. I do want it to be a peaceful natural area one day with a bench to sit upon.