(828) 526-0173 | [email protected] | Copyright 2024 – All Rights Reserved.
The Mystical Resilient Fern
Written By: Debby Hall | Issue: July 2024
Though they may seem to avoid the limelight, ferns are a fundamental component in a beautifully balanced Plateau landscape.
“Fern’s Song”
Ferns unfurl in dappled light,
Whispering secrets through the night.
In emerald green, they softly sway,
A dance of life in the woodland’s fray.
Their fronds caress the morning dew,
In silent symphony, they renew.
Amidst the trees, they gently bend,
A timeless tale that has no end.
No yard is complete without ferns, at least that is what I think.
There is something peaceful, serene, about their graceful form. Watching the soft movement of their fronds as a gentle breeze blows by looks like waves of green flowing through the garden. On The Plateau, we are fortunate to have several native species of ferns that love our mountains as much, maybe more, than we do.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Christmas Fern is evergreen with dark, leathery fronds and can be found on woodland slopes, rocky outcrops and forest floors. While it may flatten out over the winter, I love that it sticks with us during those cold months reminding us of what was and what is to come.
Interrupted Fern, is named for the unusual pattern that develops from spore-bearing segments in the middle. These sweethearts are deciduous and can be found in a variety of places including stream banks, forest edges and moist woodlands. Those “interruptions” remind us that while life may not progress in a straight line, we still grow and carry on.
Cinnamon Fern, this one might be my favorite. Another deciduous fern, its striking, sturdy, upright fronds make a statement of elegance. Their serenity reminds us to just be. For those who enjoy architecture I’d say these beauties, as a single specimen, are often the focal point of the garden. Their inner fertile fronds resemble cinnamon sticks, hence its name.
What lessons is Mother Nature teaching us through the ferns? For me it is Resilience and Endurance, Transformation and Growth, Secrets and Mystery, Balance and Harmony, and Tranquility and Peace.
Whether you admire them for their beauty, for their resilience, or revere them for their mystical nature, ferns captivate and inspire us those times we stop to admire their beauty.
Happy Gardening!
