Surprisingly, I was early for my latest shopping adventure at
Garden Fever (my neighborhood nursery)—their COVID shopping restrictions require you to schedule a timed appointment. As I stood out front and waited for my turn, my eyes looked over this container planting on the sidewalk. Something unusual caught my eye at about midway, just above the rim of the planter...
This! There was a fern with tiny fern babies along the center of a frond!
It's Polystichum setiferum, Divisilobum Group—commonly called the divided soft shield fern or regionally know as Alaska fern. How do I know this? Well the fine person working the door at Garden Fever looked it up for me, but in my research I couldn't find mention of the little baby ferns so I doubted the ID and emailed one of the owners, Lori Vollmer, to ask. She emailed Richie Steffen (President of the
Hardy Fern Foundation) and he confirmed, Polystichum setiferum, Divisilobum Group! It can vary in appearance, and is a
Great Plant Pick. I do have one of these and now I will be eagerly watching for tiny fern babies.
— — —
So since we're talking about Garden Fever I wanted to mention their 17th Annual Spring Book Soirée is coming up this weekend, Sunday the 7th! Of course instead of being an in-person event this year, they're taking it online. Tom Fischer, of
Timber Press, will be talking about new gardening titles, and I will be giving a short talk on
Fearless Gardening—it's going to be a great time! All signs point to tickets selling out soon, so if you're interested in attending you might just shoot them an email (info@gardenfever.com) to see if there are any spots left...
Weather Diary, Feb 2: Hi 49, Low 41/ Precip .40
Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at
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Wha... So cool.
ReplyDeleteKudos to the "person working the door" for getting the ID right. I hope you find 'babies' on your fern soon.
She definitely knew her plants!
DeletePays to arrive early. Your observations skills always yield such great surprises.
ReplyDeleteSomething I never manage to do, I'm usually always a few minutes late.
DeleteWhat a neat fern! Best wishes for your next book talk!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris!
DeleteNever a dull moment while waiting as long as there’s plants nearby!
ReplyDeleteHa! Exactly!
DeleteI've never seen a fern do that , pretty cool, as is your upcoming talk - bon chance!
ReplyDeleteMerci!
DeleteThat's such a great fern! I don't know that I've seen babies on that one - now I have to start paying attention. I HAVE seen baby ferns on my Woodwardia orientalis, though.
ReplyDeleteOh! I haven't seen that one with babies...now I have a new goal!
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