Hillside Fern Project: June 2026

I realized I haven’t posted an update on the Hillside Fern Project since last September. So here it is!

We experienced an early start to spring this year in mid-February, and we have been in a drought since even before then, with daily high temperatures fluctuating. This may be the new normal, but regardless of the weather changes, my ferns have thrived. I did lose two Boston ferns over the winter; however, I consider Boston ferns—commonly found in hanging baskets—to be more of an annual plant, so I don’t see that as a significant loss. As a note, there are additional ferns out of frame to the right of this photo.

I haven’t added any new ferns this year, but I did place two Hosta and two Astilbe plants among the existing ferns to introduce a bit more variety, and they are also thriving. For the first time, I feel that the ferns have established a real foothold, and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing signs of new fern growth.