Week of November 14, 2021

One family of plants that has especially benefitted from our rainy summer and fall are the FERNS. The well-established beds of Autumn and Holly Ferns have thrived, now rivaling the Camellia bushes in the Shade Garden and Palm Row. The Elkhorn Fern growing on a wooden disc hanging on our Water Oak survived the summer without any attention. Several other species have become a bit invasive. The Fishtail Ferns and Fluffy Ruffle Ferns have completely covered their allotted space and spill into neighboring walks and plantings. The Birdsnest Fern by the swing is moving inward to now cover a 4 by 4 foot area. The notoriously invasive Sword Fern has also invaded the shade gardens and needs to be pulled out when it tries to take over our beds. The eighth kind of fern we now recognize is the Resurrection Fern, which has always been an inhabitant of our Live Oaks and, as it names relates, dries up in the dry season and greens back up with the rains. This year, they have been green for the entire year. Ferns continue their role as ground covers, adding texture and color to our shady areas and trees in our Florida Garden.