September Program: TGCoA Fern Team "Knowing and Growing Ferns"

Ferns and fern allies are in a major division of the Plant Kingdom called Pteridophyta, and ferns have been around for millions of years. At one time, ferns were a dominant part of the earth’s vegetation. There are over 250 genera of ferns and about 12,000 species. Ferns tend to be distributed in wetter parts of the world but it is not uncommon to find ferns in very dry or severely cold conditions. Ferns differ from other plants in that they do not produce flowers or seed; they reproduce from spores.

Choosing the right fern for your garden or home is key, and members of The Garden Club of Austin Fern Team have been studying, collecting and experimenting with ferns for the past five years. We hope you will join us as we share our findings with you. We know for sure that whether you have a pond, sunny rock wall or a serene woodland setting, you can find an assortment of ferns to add beauty to any spot. Most ferns do well in part shade or dappled sunlight, but there are many that will do well with quite a bit of sun, provided they get enough water.

Ferns are generally low maintenance plants. They rarely need to be divided, don’t need much fertilizer, appreciate leaves from surrounding trees and mulch in the garden, and they add a whimsical appearance and lush foliage. Ferns come in an amazing range of textures, color, sizes and shapes. We believe that their ease and versatility make ferns an essential part of any well-rounded garden or plant collection.

Join us as we present an overview of ferns, the history and origin of ferns, growing tips, and some of our favorite ferns. Fern Team members – led by Christie Rodgers – are Andrea Wakefield, Steve Reynolds, Lauren Eischen, Sandi Schmidt, Manda Rash, Janice Morgan, Don Freeman, Mark Berthiaume, Joyce and John Fox, Ron Miller, Chris Taylor, and Laura Joseph. All are active members of The Garden Club of Austin, and we welcome fellow TGCoA members to join us as we promote ferns and fern beds at Zilker Botanical Garden.

We will be spotlighting old and new ferns, tropical as well as natives, easy to grow and more challenging, and we intend to provide you with a fern-filled evening plus ferns for you to take home. We also are planning a special display of rare and unusual ferns.

Mark your calendar now for Thursday, September 23, in the Austin Area Garden Center, 2220 Barton Springs Road. Refreshments and fellowship begin at 7:00 pm followed by our meeting at 7:30. Our meetings are open to the public, so bring a friend.

Frondly, Laura Joseph