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29/07/2008

my photo

HARTSTONGUE FERN

A very common British fern with glossy undivided fronds which reproduces by spores rather than seed, the spores being seen on the underside of the frond. A good plant to introduce to a shady place in the garden, and especially love damp soil although not essential. Mine are happy growing through cracks in rockery stone.

'Gathering Ferns' Illustrated London News July 1st 1871

Ferns were very popular in Victorian times, a popularity which became a craze called Pteridomania, which sounds more like an illness to me!

10 comments:

life in red shoes said...: Hello Louise! My, this fern looks a bit daunting to me!; 29 July 2008 at 18:37
Kat Mortensen said...: What a fascinating bit of history! I had never heard of Pteridomania (looked it up on Wikipedia) "fern-fever" they called it. I wonder would they have had a preference for the Ostrich-fern, since it resembles the ostentatious feather?

Kat; 29 July 2008 at 20:06
Anonymous said...: (((hi Louise)))
Great post, one of MANY that is. The HARTSTONGUE FERN you show may be common around there but it's very unusual to me. It's doesn't look very fernlike. You take gorgeous pictures. xo Elaine; 29 July 2008 at 20:43
Suzie Sews At DOTTY RED said...: ferns always make me think of water...; 29 July 2008 at 22:41
HAWTHORN HALL said...: I have always loved ferns and have never seen one quite like yours which is very beautiful! I really like the vintage drawing you included as well.

Gillian; 30 July 2008 at 00:42
Anonymous said...: I have a very shaded garden these days ... the trees have grown so large and dense that the garden can only use shade plants and I have been thinking that ferns can be so beautiful ... casting light all over the place.; 30 July 2008 at 04:18
Sal said...: Very interesting..I do have those ferns in my garden,along my Devon bank...which seems to produce all sorts of things throughout the year ;-); 30 July 2008 at 08:14
The Dutchess said...: There are ferns in my garden,they are beautiful but they also take over the garden if i don't interfere..i like the illustration from te newspaper..Pteridomania,great.Something new i can ask my friends..do you know what pteridomania is..; 30 July 2008 at 14:11
Crafty Green Poet said...: Wonderful glossy looking fern. i used to know a lot about ferns and really want to learn more again, so this is an inspiring post for me!; 31 July 2008 at 21:04
Lavinia said...: Quite right. Indoor potted ferns are essential for that "Victorian look". I wish I could say I've had success with them, but such is not the case....they go brown and they die....ah well, maybe one day I'll get the trick of it...; 2 August 2008 at 03:15

SPARROWHAWK ...

I've seen many a sparrowhawk playing at being remarkably agile in my garden over the years, but not until today had I had the opportunity to view one at such close range. Such a fascinating bird, it had decided to perch on my back fence for at least five minutes, spending the time carefully observing its surroundings. Suddenly it took me by surprise by flying off at a sharp angle low into a lilac tree. I could hear the other birds being taken by surprise too, and whether it got its catch I do not know? That was the last I saw of it.