\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stumpery<\/i>!<\/strong> –A new word for me, even though it has been around a century & a half! A stumpery<\/i> is similar to a rockery but is made from whole stumps, logs, and pieces of bark.\u00a0 Plants, such as ferns, mosses and lichens, are artistically arranged to grow around or on them. The first stumpery was built in 1856 at Biddulph Grange in Victorian Britain.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

$\"Ferns$ <\/a>
Ferns grow nicely on the upturned roots of a fallen tree.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0 A Stumpery seems an ideal design concept to incorporate in a Pacific Northwest woodland garden. If you are a hiker, like me, you can envision how this art can imitate nature. Stumps, fallen trees and their upturned roots create many more nooks & crannies and surfaces to be populated by botanical treasures.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ferns are like flowering plants in that they have true leaves and a vascular system to transport water and nutrients.\u00a0 But they do not produce seeds.\u00a0 Instead, they have a complex life cycle consisting of two alternate generations.\u00a0 The diploid sporophyte generation is the one we recognize as a fern.\u00a0 Ferns produce spores on the undersides of their fronds, which after they are released and fall to an amenable substrate, will grow into moss-like plants called prothallia.\u00a0 These haploid gametophytes are free-living organisms. \u00a0They in turn produce gametes (sperm and eggs).\u00a0 <\/b>A mobile,<\/span> flagellate sperm seeks out an egg to fertilize.\u00a0 The presence of water during this stage is critical and is why most ferns need to live in a moist climate, such as our rainforests.\u00a0 Once an egg is fertilized, it will grow into what we recognize as a fern.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Fiddleheads$ <\/a>
Fiddleheads of Sword Fern<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 We have several native ferns that could be used in a stumpery or woodland garden. Although some people eat the fiddleheads or rhizomes of some ferns, (sometimes considered a \u201cfamine food\u201d by natives) most should probably be avoided due to possible presence of carcinogens or other toxins. Many ferns are, however, often browsed by deer, elk, bear and Mountain Beaver.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Western$ <\/a>
Western Sword Fern, Polystichum munitum<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Western Sword Fern, Polystichum munitum<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Western Sword Fern is the most widespread and versatile of all our native ferns.\u00a0 Although at home in woodlands, it often adapts to drier, sunnier sites in landscapes.\u00a0 Its tall arching fronds are most impressive planted in drifts in a woodland garden. Fronds partially unroll their \u201cfiddleheads\u201d by late May. The fronds were used frequently for lining baking pits and storage baskets; and were spread on drying racks to prevent berries from sticking.\u00a0 They were variously used for placemats, floor coverings, bedding; and for games, dancing skirts and other decorations.\u00a0 They are frequently used today in flower arrangements. Anderson\u2019s Holly Fern,<\/strong> P. andersonii, <\/i>and Braun\u2019s Holly Fern,<\/i><\/strong> P. braunii,<\/i> are similar species in the same genus.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Lady$ <\/a>
Lady Fern, Athyrium felix-femina<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0 Lady Fern, \u00a0Athyrium felix-femina<\/i> <\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0This species, with its graceful, lacy, bright, yellow-green fronds, is very eye-catching.\u00a0 It may, however be a little too aggressive for a formal garden, but is ideal for a wild, moist, woodland garden, where it can freely multiply.\u00a0 It dies back completely in winter.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Spreading$ <\/a>
Spreading Wood Fern, Dryopteris expansa<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u00a0 Spreading Wood Fern or Shield Fern,<\/strong> Dryopteris expansa,<\/i><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Spreading Wood Fern is easy to grow and its fine-textured, lacy leaves are ideal for a woodland garden.<\/span><\/p>\n
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$\"Oak$ <\/a>
Oak Fern<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Oak Fern, Gymnocarpium dryopteris, <\/i><\/strong>or <\/i>Pacific Oak Fern, <\/strong>Gymnocarpium<\/i> disjunctum\u00a0 <\/i><\/b>\u00a0Oak Ferns make a nice groundcover in a woodland garden; their lush, bright green fronds brighten a dark forest floor. They can be propagated by division.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris<\/i><\/span><\/strong>,<\/strong> is found throughout much of the northeast and across Canada; but only reaches the west coast in southern Alaska and British Columbia. Sterile, bright-green deciduous fronds grow to nearly 6 feet, <\/span>in vase-like clusters, in moist, moderate climates.<\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Deer$ <\/a>
Deer Fern, Blechnum spicant<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Deer Fern, Blechnum spicant,<\/i>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Deer fern has two types of fronds: narrow, evergreen, sterile<\/i> leaves spreading outward, and even narrower, taller, fertile<\/i> fronds, which grow erect, from the center. Hitchcock writes: Deer Fern \u201cis a truly choice fern usable in many places in the garden, but so common as to have little appeal to most gardeners.\u201d\u00a0<\/em> That said, it is one of the best native ferns for landscapes, second only to Sword Fern.\u00a0 Although at home in a woodland garden, it can adapt to many situations, given adequate shade and\/or moisture.\u00a0 Deer Fern has also been used as a houseplant.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Giant Chain Fern, Woodwardia fimbriata<\/i><\/span><\/strong> Giant Chain Fern has been found on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and in the Puget Sound region of Washington where it is listed as sensitive.\u00a0 About Woodwardia fimbriata,<\/i> Hitchcock writes: \u201cThis is surely our choicest large fern.\u201d <\/i>\u00a0Being the largest, it is certainly the most impressive of all our ferns, it performs best in a woodland garden especially next to streams, bogs, springs or ponds, but it can also grow in full sun with adequate summer moisture.\u00a0 It can be very striking as a focal point or when planted against a wall in a shady location.\u00a0 It readily produces \u201csporeling plants\u201d in wet areas.\u00a0 It also may be propagated in the spring by division of the rhizomes–but judicious collection of spores is preferable where this species is rare.<\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Western$ <\/a>
Western Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum aleuticum<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Western Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum<\/i> aleuticum<\/i><\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0Maidenhair Ferns are prized by gardeners for their delicate, airy fronds. Western Maidenhair is sure to evoke memories for avid hikers of enchanting waterfalls, where it grows on cliffs within reach of water spray.\u00a0 Gardeners should make sure this charmer gets planted in a shady place with plenty of moisture. \u00a0Natives used the black stems of Maidenhair Fern in basketry designs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maidenhair Spleenwort, Asplenium trichomanes<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0 Kruckeberg writes: \u201cIt is one of our best rock garden ferns, and a superb container plant;\u201d Hitchcock writes: \u201cBoth our plants (aspleniums) are attractive, but A. trichomanes is much nicer and the more tractable.\u201d<\/i>\u00a0 It can be grown in wall crevices.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Narrow Beech Fern, Phegopteris connectilis<\/i><\/strong> This species grows in moist to wet forests, streambanks, and shady, seepy cliff crevices. Narrow Beech Fern resembles Oak Fern, but is larger, and a darker green, with long, triangular fronds.\u00a0 Hitchcock thought this was perhaps the best ornamental species of our Marsh Ferns.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Western$ <\/a>
Western Maidenhair Fern, Adiantum aleuticum<\/p><\/div>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Licorice Fern, Polypodium glycrrhiza, <\/i><\/strong>This fern usually grows epiphytically on tree trunks, especially Big Leaf Maples<\/a>, also mossy logs, rocks & moist banks. Licorice-flavored rhizomes were used by natives for flavor and for colds, sore throats and coughs. <\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A related species, Leathery Polypody,<\/strong> Polypodium scouleri,<\/strong><\/i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>Grows in tree trunks and exposed cliffs and banks often within reach of salt spray. Hitchcock writes \u201c\u2026is by far the most attractive species, and of course the most difficult to grow successfully.\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
$\"Leathery$ <\/a>
Leathery Polypody, Polypodium scouleri,<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0 Red Huckleberry, Vaccinium parvifolium<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>would also be ideal in a stumpery, because it is often found growing on stumps and nurse logs in the forest! Be creative! You could even turn\u00a0your stumpery\u00a0into a Fairy Garden!<\/p>\n
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\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Stumpery! –A new word for me, even though it has been around a century & a half! A stumpery is similar to a rockery but is made from whole stumps, logs, and pieces of bark.\u00a0 Plants, such as ferns, mosses and lichens, are artistically arranged to grow around or on them. The first stumpery<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=741"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1013,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/741\/revisions\/1013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/habitathorticulturepnw.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}