The title might sound like a mysterious and, frankly, academic question but the significance may become clear in this article. In the Pteridologist magazine in 2000 Patricia Watt mentioned that Anthony Parsons (AP) was honoured by having a fern, Gymnogramma chrysophylla parsonii , named for him. This is a Victorian name, no longer in use, […]
Garden
Our Own Pteridologist – an Introduction
The following is written and posted by Colin Adlam Am I a Pteridologist, or a Pteridomaniac? I was looking through my old photos to see what triggered my interest in ferns. The photos show a tendency towards structural things, those not of family and friends. Buildings, trees, vehicles and latterly ferns. We used to visit […]
A Welcome Sign
This successful project, which was sponsored by a private benefactor, was led by Harry Ward. The work was undertaken over four distinct phases. Pole Excavation and straightening Pole Reinstatement Banner – Design and printing Permanent Fixing Excavating and Straightening the poles The poles were removed from the […]
Wild Flower Planting – Thursday 18th October 2018
Jenny Hawkins, introduced to the team by Sue, has brought her knowledge of wildflowers with her. Because they will be of attraction to visitors alongside planted perenials and specialist trees and shrubs, we are now listing wild flowers that are found on the site, and also wildflowers that have been cultivated and planted. Both these […]
Rabbit Control – Explorer Scouts Project
At the 20th September 2018 Working Party, Mark with Maydencroft’s digger, opened up the two large holes in the cattle fence on the East side of the site, in preparation for the scouts to effect a sound repair by making a wire ‘envelope’ into the ground, and up the existing wire fence. On Monday 24th […]
Our Pteridologist writes – spare ferns are enjoying their new home.
The following is reported by Colin Adlam For the June 17th Open Day, I planted some spare ferns from my garden, leaving them at that stage in their plastic pots. Most of these have survived thanks to the teams’ brilliant watering efforts throughout this exceptionally hot summer. Wasn’t it glorious? All those new ferns that […]
How Parsons grew specimen Ferns
The following is an extract from Alpine Flowers for English Gardens by William Robinson and published in London by John Murray, Albermarle Street in 1870 Source: https://archive.org/details/alpineflowersfo00robigoog (Ed: I have corrected a few original typing/printing errors and introduced emphasis where helpful). Part I – The Rock Garden (pages 24-26 Popular and almost universally cultivated as hardy ferns […]
Mains Water Supplied
The Borough Council have provided a mains water supply to the Fernery. We are waiting for the big ‘switch on day’ to arrive, but that will not happen until we have installed a secure steel cabinet that will hide the stand-pipe and hose-reel. As soon as that happens (hopefully within a week or so) we […]