Friday, March 3, 2017

The Stumpery at the Rhododendron Species Foundation Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington

One rainy day last November, I finally stopped at the Rhododendron Species Foundation Botanical Garden in Federal Way, Washington. That's where I discovered this sweet little stumpery, created by the Hardy Fern Foundation, in 2009.

Not familiar with the concept? A stumpery is "an intentional arrangement of woody material like trunks and root wads...The goal of a stumpery is the creation of habitat especially for ferns" so says the materials they make available there at the garden. "The first known stumpery was in 1856.  It was the brainstorm of Edward William Cooke, an artist and gardener. At that time, land clearing left large debris piles that begged a solution. Cooke looked at them and saw something different. At Biddulph Grange, the estate of James Batemen, he turned some of the chaotic piles into ten-foot tall walls on either side of a path, and planted them out in ferns.  The structure was quickly repeated across Britain, ready for the new species the fern-crazed Victorians were discovering." There's more info here if you're curious.

I was particularly taken with the Woodwardia unigemmata, as I'd planted a couple of these in my garden earlier in the year. Now of course I am eagerly awaiting any sign they're alive...(damn winter).

Fall color was present throughout the garden. I really should get on editing down the rest of my photos, so I can post them before spring (officially) arrives and fall color is hopelessly passé.

"The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (RSBG) features the worlds largest public stumpery with ferns spilling over 140 stumps and logs in about a half-acre garden set within the 22 acre botanical garden. This artistic arrangement of woody material is interplanted with an amazing collection of ferns and unique plants from around the world." (source)

The stumps and root-wads used here are quite lovely in their own right.

Saxifraga primuloides, I believe.

I wish I'd found a label for this climbing plant.

The overcast day, combined with the mist and rain, certainly set the mood for my visit. Someday though I would like to visit when I have more time (I was on my way back to Portland) and when it's dry. Being cold and wet isn't fun for long.

On the stump is Saxifraga stolonifera 'Maroon Beauty'.

I bought one of those guys on the right, Dryopteris sieboldii, with the fairly thick fronds, last year at Joy Creek. It's held up well over the winter, even though the damn squirrels keep trying to dig it up.

Blurry photo, but it was nice to see the Selaginella kraussiana happy here, mine is looking pretty toasted after the winter cold and ice. I hope I don't lose it.

Another shot of Dryopteris sieboldii...

This image reminds me of camping on the Olympic Peninsula when I was a kid. My mom longed to grow ferns like they did there, only we lived on the much drier side of the state.

Asplenium scolopendrium?

Even the fallen needles add to the scene...

As does the Hakonechloa...

Adiantum venustum (I believe) covering a log.

There were rusted metal bits mixed in here and there, they looked like they could have been tools used to move the stumps into place.

Should you find yourself in the area I wholeheartedly recommend a visit. Admission to the garden costs $8, but for happening upon gems like this, that's a bargain!

Weather Diary, March 2: Hi 51, Low 36/ Precip .06

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

26 comments:

  1. I love the stumpery at the Rhododendron Garden, I've been a couple of times in the mid- to late spring, on a more sunny day than you visited, and it's lovely. I've read about a private garden on Vashon with a great fern stumpery too, that is occasionally open to the public. I'd like to do something with stumps and ferns on a much smaller scale in my back garden.

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    1. Oh I would love to see the garden on Vashon! There was an HPSO tour that went up there last summer, sadly I didn't get to take part.

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  2. I would visit as much as possible if I lived out there. Just an ideal landscape for my taste. The two ferns you mentioned you have are ones I have read about but can't grow here. Even though you got cold and wet, the pictures in that kind of weather are particularly appealing.

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    1. I think the cool wet made my photos less focused, kind of a misty effect. I would have had a lot more (and better) photos if not for that.

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  3. Those ferns are incredible.

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    1. They are! You should visit if you're up that way.

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  4. What a beautiful place! My sister lives in Eugene and there is a park up on a big hill that has lovely Rhodies etc. I love woodland gardens, the ferns and decomposing wood...the smell of damp soil! Thank you for the tour : )

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    1. I think I might have visited that park once. Is there a pioneer cemetery nearby?

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  5. You go to the best places. Can't believe I haven't been there for a few years when it's only a few minutes from where I work. Oh to have a few acres to play with.

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    1. Acres!? I think I'd be happy with one.

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  6. That's a really magical place. Some of those stumps, etc. are even more beautiful than the ferns. Really wonderful. I wonder how often one has to refresh the stumps in a stumpery? I suppose the decay rate is different for different woods and different climates.
    Not as nice, but I use my big cherry tree stump as a pot stand in summer, but as it decays, I hope to plant in it's crevices and watch it naturally change and wane.

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    1. I wondered that too, about how long it took before the stumps were do degraded they just disappeared.

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  7. I realized looking at these beautiful photos that it's been over a year since I've been there. The stumpery looks like it's maturing beautifully.

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  8. Oh, you're making me kick myself that I left behind a fern I saw at a garden center today - the new foliage was a raspberry color and the tag claimed it could get by with "moderate" water. I can't remember the species. Ferns are problematic here at best and I couldn't quite trust that tag...

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    1. You should have got it, or should get it next time. There are desert ferns you know...

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  9. I actually have an area of my garden where I could pull off something like this-on a very small scale.This post is full to the brim of engaging ideas !

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    1. Yay! All you need is a couple of stumps now, right? (or maybe you already have them?)

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  10. Alien landscape to Southern California eyes, but in a good way.

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    1. If you're ever up that way you should lay your eyes on that alien landscape in person.

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  11. Stumpery! Forgot about the one at Biddulph Grange and so have just spent some happy time there in a digital kinda way. Conspiring now to see if one is possible or our tiny acreage.

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  12. I enjoy seeing this garden again through your beautiful pictures. Who knew Stumpery is a thing... The garden has a totally different feel in Spring, when Rhodies are in bloom. I didn't realize Woodwardia unigemmata isn't hardy; now I'm worried about mine.

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    1. Some sources say Zone 7, some say Zone 8. I'm just worried because mine was so new, and we had such a harsh winter here in Portland.

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