Our Ferns So Far

Bit by bit, we've been adding ferns to the garden. Two springs ago, we planted one tiny Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum 'Pictum'), in an open spot under one of the garage windows. It's since become somewhat crowded and blocked by neighboring perennials, but I'm not ready to move it just yet.

Last year, we planted three ferns, all at the back of the annual bed near the back door: another Japanese painted fern (which started out much larger than our first one and is now a big splash of silver when you come up the hill), a Christmas fern (Polystichum acrostichoides), and a variegated holly fern (Arachniodes simplicior var. variegata). The Christmas fern seems to be in good shape, but we're waiting to see how the holly fern will do. John Mickel, in Ferns for American Gardens (Timber Press 2003), says that his variegated holly fern doesn't awaken until early June in New York. Ours currently has only two small fronds, still not completely uncurled, and three crosiers. We also have a maidenhair fern that was planted by the woman who laid out the bed along the back of the house; I think it's Adiantum capillus-veneris.

So far this year, we've added six ferns: In front of the gnome on the east side of the back yard, an Athyrium filix-femina (lady in red) flanked by two Polystichum polyblepharum (Japanese tassel ferns). An autumn fern (Dryopteris erythrosora) in an empty spot under the dogwood in the front yard. An Athyrium 'Ghost' fern that Kay fell in love with, by the gate into the front yard. And another athyrium, 'Branford Beauty,' at the western end of the bed along the back of the house. The label of the Branford Beauty fern says that it's "a perfect cross between Lady Fern and Japanese Painted Fern!" I'm not sure if I wouldn't really rather have something more robust in that spot, but we'll see how it develops.