Dwarf Red Tree Fern

Dwarf Red Tree Fern

Blechnum brasiliense

(BLEK-num) (bra-sill-ee-EN-see)

Synonyms: Red Brazilian Tree Fern, Brazilian dwarf tree fern

Even though this plant lacks the traditional trunk of a tree fern it still has a stubby 12 inch stipe that can be seen if observed closely. Its new growth is anywhere from bright red to washed out pink and the fronds harden off to green.

In botanical terms these photos are examples of Circinate vernation. That’s the name for the way a fern frond emerges. Staying tightly wrapped until hardening off a bit. This plant was growing outdoors during the summer but was brought in during the winter.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Palm and Fern
Click Here for a Larger Version

Thought a little green would be appropriate for today.

Basket Fern

Basket Fern
Drynaria rigidula
(dry-NAR-ee-uh) (rig-ID-yoo-la)
Synonyms: Oak Leaf Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern
Click Here for a Larger Version

Here goes a limited description of this rare fern. It has up to 14 other botanical synonyms, which can give you a little idea about how technical the discussion could get. Basically the fern is considered native to Australia, New Caledonia, and maybe the island of Papua New Guinea. Some people also think it is native to SE Asia and parts of China.

This was growing as an epiphyte attached to a Palm tree, which is defined as “A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a Staghorn fern, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.” It however can also grow as an epilithic, “plant that grows on rocks or stony soil and derives nourishment from the atmosphere.” I guess that makes it pretty flexible except that it loves moisture and that narrows down where it can grow a bit. It is a big fern with some of the green fronds extending up to six feet in length. I have included the color version to see the dry papery fronds. They were weird to touch.

Click Here for a Larger Version

I really feel like our trip to Hawaii was a botanical treasure trove of both rare and common tropical plants. It was a great learning experience for me. I have to put all the pictures that came out together and do some printing. Not looking forward to that.

Purple Petunias

Purple Petunias
(peh-TEWN-ya)

At least some of the Petunias are doing well this season. This unknown variety has been able to fight off the slugs and all the rain. Each time we get a heavy rainstorm the Petunia flowers turn to mush. They are brave to keep coming back and usually right when they start to look good, kapow, they get hit with another big rain.

Here is what is left of a Tree Fern. There were a few new shoots coming out but it was sad to see this seven footer almost completely brown.


Ruby got sprayed by a skunk last night. Boy does she stink.

Elephant Staghorn Fern

Elephant Staghorn Fern
Platycerium elephantotis
(plat-ee-SIR-ee-um) (el-eh-fun-TOH-tis)
Synonyms: Cabbage Fern, Elephant Ear Fern, Platycerium angolense

This fern, which was really pretty unusual looking, was growing at
The Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Manhattan.

Several months ago after reading about the greenhouse at Rusk I decided yesterday was the day to go. It is quite a nice little greenhouse and there is an outdoor garden there as well. Certainly not a botanical destination for people it is more of a quick visit type of place. There was good collection of plants, birds and Koi. The greenhouse is open to the public from 1-5pm every day. You can see the place is cared for with a lot of love.

One of the weirder things they had was Cotton (Gossypium). I had never seen it up close before. This one looked like a little figure hanging of the plant and at first it didn't look real.


It was an interesting day in NYC. Warm, real windy and very crowded. I covered several areas of the city and will probably be posting some more pictures over the next couple of days. I was interested in testing a few lenses with the new camera.

ABC Wednesday F is For Fern

ABC Wednesday F is For Fern
Tasmanian Tree Fern
Dicksonia Antarctica
(dik-so-nee-uh)

If you are here for Wordless Wednesday please scroll down to the next post. Thanks for visiting.

Tree Fern is one of my favorite plants. They are graceful, easy to cultivate and beautiful. I took this photo with a 5 MP Nikon Coolpix 5400. This photo underwent a little photoshop work to help bring out the color.


This is a ‘f’ace sculpture I took down in Florida. I don’t think I would have one in my garden but it looked good in the tropical setting. I do know not to underestimate what a little bit of whimsy can bring to the garden. It is sometimes just what is needed. This piece was actually very intricate and well put together.

Here is my ABC Blogroll. If you want to be included please leave a comment to that effect. This project has grown exponentially and it is tough to keep up.

mrs nesbitts place
hin's photoblog
tech the man
a bit of this a dash of that
Little Rock Daily Photo
strolling through Georgia
Ruth's Garden Blog
kate isis
photography by kml
AVCR8TEUR'S Blog
Salty Dogs
The Modern Goddess
Simply Sage
author blog
kai
Mollitudes
ten forty
Neva
Ackworth born, gone West
Secluded Habitat
katch photo
Mr. Mapper
The Max Files
Watch me, No Watch me
Peter Miller
Lynette
Andrea’s Thought of the Day
Photowannabe
RuneE’s Visual Norway
Happy One
Jim Baker Photography
Azure
HPY
cre8tiva
NYCindividual
Lilli and Nevada
Bonnie
Outhouse of Canada
imac

Digital Shutter Mania
Dirty Knees
Dragonstar
Veg Plotting
Erin
Gordon
GAWO
arne’s blog
kostas
petunia
postcards from paulie
kim

Dwarf Red Tree Fern (Blechnum brasiliense)

Dwarf Red Tree Fern
Blechnum brasiliense
(BLEK-num) (bra-sill-ee-EN-see)
Synonyms: Red Brazilian Tree Fern

This is a beautiful fern that is native to Brazil and other parts of South America. I have seen it a few times before including the New York Orchid Show. I am not sure why they call it a Tree Fern because it doesn’t have that traditional stem that I so love about Tree Ferns. This photo is of the new growth rolling out. When it is completely unfurled it is a nice red color, it later hardens off to green. This fern is tropical and is hardy to USDA Zone 9. It was growing in the tropical plant section of the Bartlett Arboretum and was just spending the summer outside here in Connecticut. Some of the cultural tips I saw when I looked this plant up


It is again ‘ABC Wednesday’ over at Blog Catalog. This weeks theme is starts with ‘B’ and again I am using the scientific name, so ‘B’ is for Blechnum and brasiliense and Brazil.



Here are some of the other participating blogs:
mrs nesbitts place.blogspot
Kissing the Dogwood
gemmas house
Ruth's Me My Garden, My Life
dwq online
photowannabe
tech the man

Southern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris)

Southern Maidenhair Fern
Adiantum capillus-veneris
(ad-ee-AN-tum) (KAP-il-iss VEN-er-iss)
Pteridaceae

I saw this dainty beauty in the greenhouse at the Bartlett Arboretum on Sunday. I have been growing a little patch of Northern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) and that plant looks almost coarse compared to the Southern Maidenhair. A. pedatum isn’t really coarse, it is a beautiful groundcover plant that is easy to grow. I think the Southern type is hardy to USDA Zone 7 so that is why it was growing indoors in Stamford. I love the soft green foliage contrasted with the wiry black stems. This plant has been used medicinally since ancient times. I am going to keep my eye out for this plant if I head down South this winter.


(Synonyms: Venus-hair fern, True Maidenhair, Capillaire commun, Capillaire de Montpellier. Hair of Venus)