Nurture Ferns. Indoors. Without Tears.

I did it. I kept several ferns alive for almost a year.

The secret?

Mini-greenhouses and Wardian cases. Structures so forgiving that - as I ignored some of the plants during the excitement and zany-ness of Willa's first three months under my care - they still thrived.

The maidenhair fern really needed a tightly-sealed environment. Lots of humidity. The smaller greenhouse suited it best (bottom photo).

An asparagus fern, a bird's nest and two other smaller ferns took to the Wardian case like champs (top photo).

Now, my next step in this horticultural dance would normally be to push my luck and buy a few more. But I am so thrilled with this small victory, I am content to sit with it and just gaze at their greenery through the winter.

Snippets of New Momma Gardening Endeavors

My new life hit me literally overnight. I went from being a pod and a vessel to a food source. A master laundress. A mama.

So, my gardening these days comes by piece meal. Which, I thought would frustrate me. Instead, the slower pace has been an eye-opener. Splicing up my gardening time and projects into little moments that I find intriguing - with the time to look at more of the details. Close up. Before they disappear and I am called away from them.

My commitment to growing easy cutting flowers has not faultered. My inability to say no and limit seed purchasing has no end, however. As of today, I have seven varieties of zinnia seed packets. More probably to follow. I'm planting - Apricot Blush, All Summer Cutting Mix, Giant Flowered Mix, Exquisite, State Fair Mixed Colors, Fruit Smoothie and Granny's Bouquet.

Flower and fern pressings from this past fall. Watching one too many Victorian-set BBC programs has me framing my ferns! An obsession with tea and crumpets to follow.

Bulbs in containers. It was my first year trying this and I am thrilled to pieces ('Thrilled to pieces?!' When did I start saying things like that?! Egads. Must be another side effect of the BBC addiction.) My absolute favorite tulip color totally does my blue pottery justice. I keep peeking out our back door to gaze and gander at them.

Indoor Gardening - When is too much, um, too much?

Teacup cloche with asparagus fern.

The ever-forgiving jade plant in an old teapot.


String of beads - a newer purchase.

One of many ferns. This will go into a terrarium for safe-keeping.

First off, I’m having a hard time with the word ‘houseplant’ these days. Maybe because there was what I thought a houseplant should be – versus the flip-side of the other, more creative possibilities.

I have mentioned before, that my very first memories of houseplants were the fake looking plants that lived in the basement of my hometown’s Woolworths. Variegated, dusty – fading under fluorescent lights. Brrrrrr. Lifeless. Sad. Uninspiring. Hospital waiting room-grade horticulture.

Then, there were the college years, the New York City years, the office-living years – in which I was the witness to houseplant overkill, houseplant neglect, and repetitive houseplant behavior. Ficus trees that limped along in smoggy air. Fake ivies. Spider plant after spider plant.

I had to start off slow. My own initial attempts at houseplants were lessons in frustration. Now, I have picked up the pace to an almost ridiculous degree – still, without a fussy plant in sight. I have access to greenhouses that present new possibilities and new varieties. Each plant purchase leaves me weak in the knees – driven to distraction – thinking about the one plant I left behind. That I should go back and get . . . and eventually do. (Of course!)

Here’s where I stand – as of March 3, 2008. My indoor gardening inventory. Again, the word ‘houseplants’ just won't do them justice.

Heart-leaved philodendron
Fern – Adiantum
Fern – Miniature Asparagus (2)
Fern – Asparagus
Fern – Maidenhair
Fern – Rosa Maidenhair
Fern – mystery variety . . .
Bird’s Nest
Miniature aloe
Aloe
Mother-in-Law Tongue
Dwarf Mother-in-Law Tongue (2)
Peace Lily
Pothos (2) – for quick greening up of any space
Succulents (4 varieties – rescued from Lowe’s)
Prayer Plant
Palm
Primrose (the wilder variety)
Jade plant
String of Beads
Terrariums (3) – in desperate need of reviving. Filled with baby's tears, ferns and moss.

Dear blog readers: Feel free to feed the fever - tell me about your tried-and-true favorites.

Fronds. Fiddleheads. FERNS.

I don't belong to much - in terms of plant or gardening groups and societies. So this is somewhat of a first. But, I think it is a great place to start - for me and my curiosity about/addiction regarding ferns.

The American Fern Society.

For 12 clams, I'll receive the Fiddlehead Forum six times a year. The Society also offers a lot of free information through their website. A tad on the techie side, it still gets me going.

Could becoming a (insert serious-sounding word here for fern lover) be far behind? Probably not. I'm aiming low, hoping I won't kill my new batch of greenhouse ferns within (screech) . . . a month.

The Wardian Case - It Lives!

My friend Kris and I had an outing this past Tuesday to a local greenhouse. I finally bought ferns that I have mooned over for years - to put in my Wardian Case. Maidenhair ferns, asparagus ferns . . . a few I don't even know the names of but needed to get. The case is in our new bedroom - and was the final thing I peeked at before I fell asleep last night and the first thing I looked at when I woke up this morning. I feel like a little kid. And I'm in heaven.

A Story: Mom's Autumn Fern

Last Thanksgiving, my mother gave me an offshoot of her autumn fern.

"These are practically unkillable," she added.

I brought it into work and it thrived.

Then, a long weekend vacation in February left it alone - without watering. I returned to find it totally dried up.

I brought it home to compost (sniff!). But my laziness on another level left it sitting in our kitchen. For weeks.

And it made one of the most amazing comebacks I have yet to witness. Looky here.

The autumn fern. Live it. Love it. Learn it.

Or, kill it and it still loves you back. How's that for unconditional?