If someone did a Top Ten list of plants that inspire, ferns would be there. Mayapples would be there. Giant oak trees would be there. Flowers that show up on their own, and bloom at the edge of a paved street, for sure would be there. I’m talking about plants with personality, plants that stir the imagination, plants that make you smile. Plants that make you write a story. It’s a short list.
A field of wildflowers, as far as the eye can see. That kind of imagination.
Ferns. A stegosaurus stomps the ‘earth’, the way we imagine the earth looked millions of years ago. With each step, the ground thuds as the dinosaur moves past vegetation…huge, prehistoric ferns. Yeah, that kind of imagination.
So, ferns. This is what I love about ferns. Well, for one thing, they hang around all year. They survive the winter. Like we do. They’re not fresh and robust when they meet the first light snowfall, or the last cold icy storm. But they don’t dry up and wither away, or lose all their leaves like some bigger, stronger, more impressive ‘plants’, otherwise known as trees. Buried under January’s coldest, iciest cover, the fern hunkers down, close to the ground. You scrape away the slush and snow and hardened icicles. And there’s a fern. I have respect for that.
Is there another plant that comes to life with the charm and charisma of a fern? I know, somebody’s gonna come up with some mushroom that pops up overnight in an interesting way. Nope, forget it, not good enough.
You can smell the scent of ‘earth’. And take in the filtered light shining from above through the branches of those tall awesome oak trees. Peculiar little mayapples cover the leafy-rich surface. And fancy green ferns unfold.
etikser 
WOW!!!!!! Love
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Thanks!
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They have character , don’t they?
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Yes, they do.
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A lovely and powerful “Ode to Ferns.”
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Thanks.
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I have a Japanese Painted Fern in the garden and honestly, it is my favorite plant. It comes back every spring after the harsh Ontario winters. It is a beautiful grey with burgundy fronds. Its a treasure so I am delighted you have paid this homage to the humble fern!
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Your fern sounds beautiful. My ferns did especially well this year, and I suppose that made me think to write about them.
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Beautiful..ferns are resilient.
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They are. And thank you.
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I agree with you, etikser. Ferns do have character. I love watching the fronds unfurl in spring.
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Thank you. Yes, they don’t make fruit or flowers, but they’re so interesting nonetheless. They add a bit of texture that’s rather unique.
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We have a patch growing outside my writing room window. They are so hearty they are taking over the whole garden. Time to give some away.
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Would make a nice gift for the right person….
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What a great post! I love ferns (even though as a Scot I can’t say it as it’s spelt–we say ferins).
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Thank you so much! I like that…ferins!
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Don’t get me started…girls, films, urns are the same (and so many others). 😁
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You’re right–ferns are reliable, and even quite tolerant of dry soil (some of them). Maybe it’s because they’ve been around for so long. They’ve figured out how to survive.
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I think they have. I’ve lost one or two trying to transplant it, but the others seem to thrive in the sun and in the shade, and I never water them.
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Love this. All of it, but especially the prehistoric ferns part. I have felt like I went back in time many times when I walked my dog through the woods lined with huge ferns…
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Thank you so much. I can imagine how walking along the ferns would make you feel that way. It sounds wonderful.
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