Monday, March 1, 2021

Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden; the stumpery. Because really, we all deserve a stumpery—don't we?

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.

20 comments:

  1. Really a gorgeous environment. Is there a tree (stump) species that is considered best for creating a stumpery, that is preferred by the ferns?

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    1. Wow that's a great question but I have no idea of the answer.

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  2. How 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.

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    1. You're reinventing the stumpery SoCal style!

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  3. The 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.

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    1. Good to know I'm on the right path! ;)

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  4. Mossy logs, ferns, it's the forest primeval!

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    1. With a reminder of the current world creeping in... in the form of freeway noise from Interstate 5 nearby.

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  5. I never knew about a stumpery before you started mentioning them. They are magical. Thanks for opening my eyes.

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    1. And why would you given the places you've lived and gardened? But glad I could introduce them to you.

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  6. OMG!

    What 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.

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    1. Think there had been snow... gosh, so long ago now it's hard to remember!

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  7. Always fun to see what sprouts from old downed trees and rotting logs. The wonders of regeneration.

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  8. This post is like eating a cone of my favorite ice cream on a hot Sunday afternoon. I love ferns. Thank you!

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  9. Stumpery, a natural sculpture garden that cradles ferns. The atmosphere of the place must have so serene and wonderful.

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  10. What 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.

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    1. Especially since I didn't see another person the entire time I was in the garden, pretty magical.

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