Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Fern Garden, at Lotusland

Unfortunately I don't seem to ever give myself enough time to properly explore the Fern Garden at Lotusland. Even when I had the whole day there, as I did last April, I still ended up running through this part of the property.

It's a shame, as it's a beautiful space with lovely specimens. From the website: "Lotusland’s original Fern Garden was designed in 1968 around Madame Walska’s collection of Australian tree ferns (Sphaeropteris cooperi). It features giant staghorn ferns (Platycerium) hanging from the branches of coast live oak trees (Quercus agrifolia) as well as different types of tree ferns under-planted with many other fern species and Begonia species and cultivars."

Tree ferns are definitely high on the list of things I wish I could grow.

A bird's-nest fern large enough for a small human to nest in?

Now that's a staghorn fern!

Just a few more dreamy tree fern photos...

Weather Diary, Oct 28: Hi 56, Low 33/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

20 comments:

  1. Incredible array of tree ferns. One almost expects a few prehistoric reptiles to come strolling through. Your photos capture the delicacy of their fronds perfectly.

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    1. They did! But they moved to fast for me to capture them with my camera...

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  2. Great photos of the tree ferns. I wish I could grow them too. I can't even keep them alive in pots, one little slip-up with not enough water and they immediately turn into crispy critters.

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    1. For some reason the way you phrased that "one little slip-up" made me laugh thinking of someone with a child who just forgot them that one time in the shopping cart at the grocery store, or something like that...and can't understand why such a fuss is being made...

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  3. Aren't they just so beautifully flamboyant ? I have a few in my garden , love them !

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  4. Ah, now THIS is where I'd spend most of my time in Lotusland! Hope to see it in person one day. Until then, thanks so much for these lovely photos. BTW, Monty Don of BBC "Gardeners' World" grows tree ferns quite successfully in Longwood Gardens, UK, with autumn prep for winter cold. I'm wondering why you guys couldn't grow them in-ground there in PNW?

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    1. Some people here do grow tree ferns, but it's usually people with more money than sense, because it is an iffy environment. If you want a plant with any size to make a statement it's going to cost quite a lot, but if it dies over the winter, then you're out that big amount. Not everyone can afford that. That's my opinion, anyway.

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    2. Here in Portland it's too cold. We get into the teens (14 in my garden a couple of winters) and have wicked ice storms. The UK has a much more forgiving climate. I have friends in Luton, England, with several in there garden. I am jealous.

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  5. If only I had more water...Santa Barbara has water limits too but I'm willing to bet Lotusland gets a break there. And then those ferns have to be very well established at this stage.

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    1. Yes indeed, those ferns have been there for quite awhile. You've got me wondering about water though. The great lawn is so very green...

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  6. Well! I'm glad you ran through! Tree ferns are THE coolest. Kinda shocked to see them at Lotusland. They are so well done here, I guess I shouldn't be! I really enjoy your posts from this place of Ms Walska's art and mind.

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    1. Glad you're enjoying the posts. Have you been to Lotusland?

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  7. So beautiful. The tree ferns of course, but the whole design as well. Drooling...

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    1. I know what you mean, I spent the entire day in a state of wonder and awe.

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  8. Omigosh, beautiful...just like a walk in the Jurassic (minus the dinosaurs)!

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    1. Ya, I have a feeling the dinosaurs would probably be too destructive to keep around.

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  9. I'm so glad you took these photos. You may not have spent as much time in the Fern Garden as you might have wanted, but you still spent more time there than I did.

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  10. Love tree ferns. I was sad when I realized I couldn't grow them. I do grow a bird's-nest fern which isn't even close to that immense size... could my little fern become a giant if it grew in more favorable climate?

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