Yes we do!!! In my fantasy garden I have another half-lot that's full off downed stumps, exposed roots and a lot of moss and ferns. Of course there's also another half-lot that's a desert—a girl can dream right? Until then I visit places like the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden with their fabulous version, aka "
the world’s largest public stumpery, with ferns spilling over 140 stumps and logs in a magical half-acre" (
read more here).
This post is essentially a "part two" of the visit I began writing about on
Friday...
"
A stumpery is an intentional arrangement of woody material like old stumps and tree trunks. The goal of a stumpery is the creation of habitats especially for ferns and other shade-loving plants; secondarily comes the sense of accomplishment from the arrangements of the arresting architecture of the roots, or any other things that you can find on or in re-purposed wood."
Dryopteris sieboldii
I think this is Pyrrosia sheareri, but it might be P. lingua—I'm having trouble telling how large the fronds are.
Cyrtomium falcatum (holly fern)
That beautiful fern is a Dicksonia antarctica, the Tasmanian tree fern. There are a few growing around The Spheres in downtown Seattle, but that area is a heat island—warmer than Federal Way, WA, where this garden is located.
Since this plant is only borderline hardy here they'd taken a little extra care to protect it for the winter months.
More Cyrtomium falcatum. I find myself really drawn to this fern lately, whereas I used to not care for it at all.
I want this!!!
Dryopteris wallichiana
These are Pyrrosia sheareri, for sure. I do love me some pyrrosia!
And this concludes our look at the stumpery...
Weather Diary, February 28: Hi 58, Low 44/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for
danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Really a gorgeous environment. Is there a tree (stump) species that is considered best for creating a stumpery, that is preferred by the ferns?
ReplyDeleteWow that's a great question but I have no idea of the answer.
DeleteHow I'd love to have a woodland area with ferns. I do have a number of stumps, one of which sports a Yucca in its cavity, but I expect that's as close to a stumpery as I'll ever get here.
ReplyDeleteYou're reinventing the stumpery SoCal style!
DeleteThe stumpery has always been my favorite part of this botanical garden. It's a natural shade garden with just a touch of human assistance. I've recently purchased my second holly fern, (the first perished). I'm glad you finally succumbed to its charm.
ReplyDeleteGood to know I'm on the right path! ;)
DeleteMossy logs, ferns, it's the forest primeval!
ReplyDeleteWith a reminder of the current world creeping in... in the form of freeway noise from Interstate 5 nearby.
DeleteI never knew about a stumpery before you started mentioning them. They are magical. Thanks for opening my eyes.
ReplyDeleteAnd why would you given the places you've lived and gardened? But glad I could introduce them to you.
DeleteOMG!
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to the Dryopteris wallichiana?
It looks like somebody has sat on it, ha ha!
Mine looks like that after the snow sits on it.
Think there had been snow... gosh, so long ago now it's hard to remember!
DeleteAlways fun to see what sprouts from old downed trees and rotting logs. The wonders of regeneration.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteThis post is like eating a cone of my favorite ice cream on a hot Sunday afternoon. I love ferns. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteGreat analogy!
DeleteStumpery, a natural sculpture garden that cradles ferns. The atmosphere of the place must have so serene and wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWell except for the freeway noise...
DeleteWhat a great stress reliever a visit must be. Just saw one in a program on historic UK gardens and you were walking in between almost walls of stumps. Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteEspecially since I didn't see another person the entire time I was in the garden, pretty magical.
Delete