Not that further inspiration is required, but a weekend on the western slope of Roundhead Mountain, without the distraction of internet, has encouraged  adding to the somewhat recently begun collection of ferns. My mostly shaded garden has included common Autumn, Cinnamon, Ostrich, Tassel, Christmas, Ghost, and Japanese Painted ferns for years, with volunteer Sensitive, Rock cap, and Chain ferns appearing spontaneously as shade has increased over three decades. A look alike, Arborvitae fern (a spike moss), has long been a favorite.

In recent years, twenty or thirty newcomers have been added, almost all without any attention to care after planting, and with my barely controlled passion for filling every available space in the garden, planting ferns seems a reasonable extravagance. Helpful to this mild compulsion, in contrast to many other exotics, ferns can be obtained at relatively minimal expense through the garden center or by mail order.

I am disappointed that I cannot yet name many of the newer ferns. If possible, it seems that my ever short memory has further deteriorated, so I have broken a cardinal rule and as inconspicuously as possible placed metal tags beneath each. Certainly, I’ll learn half before I’m dead and gone.

To assist my learning, hopefully not a lost cause, I brought along a fern reference to fill the very quiet evening hours when not gazing at the star filled sky. This has provided further inspiration, with plans to place an order for several more choice selections the minute I return to civilisation.