Abstract
Many nature-loving friends have followed the winding path of stepping stones to see for the first time our rarest fern, the Hart's-tongue (Scolopendrium vulgare), back in our little fern nook under the big sweet gum tree where the spice bushes help to make it shady and cool and the marginal (Aspidium marginale) and spinulose shield ferns (Aspidium spinulosum) filter the light rays over them. Here the three specimens of Hart's-tongue so kindly sent me by Mr. Ransier have found a home and, I hope, an abiding place forever. Just above them on some rock is the walking fern (Camptosorus rhizophyllus), while around are ebony spleenworts (Asplenium platyneuron), violets, hepaticas, orchids, and lady slippers to keep them company. Here, too, the common polypody (Polypodium vulgare) is making a brave effort to become naturalized both among and on some rocks, while nearby the beech ferns (Phegopteris polypodiodes), obtuse Woodsia (Woodsia obtusa), and several of the Botrychiums seem at home. Farther on, the persimmon trees, the horse chestnut, tulip-tree, wild -cherry, maple and white birch, big old trees, make a shaded north side yard. Here among these trees we have planted native shrubs of dogwood, redbud, shadbush, wahoo, sassafras and spice bush. These make a fitting setting for our fern and wild flower sanctuary which is a never-failing source of joy throughout the season. In earliest spring we find the first delicate, uncoiling fronds of the fragile bladder fern (Cystopteris fragilis), snow trillium and hepatica, to be followed later by the bold fiddle heads of cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinna102
Published Version
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