Tuesday, April 27, 2010

O is for the Ostrich Fern

ABC Wednesday


Ostrich Fern
Matteuccia struthiopteris



Ode to the Ostrich Fern


How stately does the Ostrich Fern
Rise above the bower

Unfurling greenness in the glade,
Besides her last-year's flower.

Exuding elegance she does rise -
And above all else she towers,

I'd love to join her in the shade,
and while away the hour.


---by yours truly,
SG



Would you like to read more about this fern?
You can find information through Wikipedia by clicking on this sentence.




To see who has posted this week's ABC Wednesday Post,
visit Mrs. Nesbitt by clicking the logo below. Read and enjoy her post.
Then look for this same logo on her site to see who else has joined the meme today!
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29 comments:

  1. Sylvia KApril 27, 2010 at 3:56 PM

    Fun post and words, lovely photos and beautiful fern! Knew of the plant, but not it's name! Makes for a great post for the O day! Thanks for the fun! Have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  2. Tumblewords:April 27, 2010 at 5:11 PM

    Beautiful photos! I love the fern.

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  3. Rebecca @ In The GardenApril 27, 2010 at 5:34 PM

    Lovely post! I planted some for the first time last year, I don't see any signs of them yet, I hope they are just late risers.

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  4. Monica the Garden FaerieApril 27, 2010 at 6:20 PM

    Overall, ostrich ferns outreach others. Or something!

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  5. JamaApril 27, 2010 at 7:31 PM

    I've see them around here, just didn't know the name! Now I know.

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  6. WandaApril 27, 2010 at 9:01 PM

    Oh my what a lovely fern.. Maybe I will buy one for my back yard.

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  7. HildredApril 27, 2010 at 9:21 PM

    Great post, - beautiful fern and a fun poem.

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  8. Roger Owen GreenApril 27, 2010 at 9:50 PM

    now that's a nice post.

    but I missed the birds.

    ROGER, ABC Wednesday team

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  9. Northern Beauty SeekerApril 27, 2010 at 9:59 PM

    Cute homage to a favourite plant of mine!

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  10. Paula Scott Molokai Girl StudioApril 27, 2010 at 10:11 PM

    Great choice and images to go with it! I forgot all about this fern now that I live in the southwest. I never met a fern I didn't like!

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  11. Shady GardenerApril 27, 2010 at 10:24 PM

    Thanks to all who have visited this post! I'll try to keep up with your comments... however, I'm out of town on Wednesday with family the rest of the week. :-)

    Thank you for visiting, Sylvia K. :-)

    Thanks, Tumblewords.

    Rebecca, They are very pretty and I'll tell you of my experience. I had to plant them three times before they felt "at home." I think they're a bit touchy in getting started, but once they settle in, they're good to go! :-)

    Hi Monica, One opportune oratory! ;-) Or something. ha!

    Thanks for your visit, Jama.

    Wanda, they really are pretty. Their "flower" is quite unusual. I believe when they do this, they're feeling "at home." ;-)

    Hildred and Charles, Thank you for your compliment and visit. :-)

    Hi Roger - the Ostrich? (Hiding behind the ferns, I think!) ha.

    Garden Ms. S, Agreed. My neighbors shared their ferns with me, so I'm thankful for their generosity!

    Hi Paula, Thank you for your visit today. I know exactly how you feel. There are some Great ferns "out there!" ;-)

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  12. Northern ShadeApril 27, 2010 at 11:24 PM

    I like the ostrich ferns, because once they rise in the spring, they grow very quickly. They make a good backdrop for other plants, too.

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  13. joeyApril 27, 2010 at 11:27 PM

    Oh, I love ostrich ferns, Shady! If I could have only 1 plant in my garden, it would be the fern.

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  14. mrsnesbittApril 28, 2010 at 3:31 AM

    Wonderful and the poem was just so so perfect!

    Thanks so much for contributing,

    Denise (ABC Team)

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  15. RosemaryApril 28, 2010 at 6:33 AM

    So Nice!
    Ferns are such a graceful plant. So fresh looking even in the hottest weather.

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  16. x_pEpPeRoNi_xApril 28, 2010 at 8:16 AM

    I had fun reading your poetic verses.

    The ferns look lovely too!

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  17. CarolApril 28, 2010 at 6:56 PM

    I love these ferns! Much prettier than the ostrich bird!

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  18. VWApril 28, 2010 at 9:15 PM

    I'm pretty sure I brought home an ostrich fern from the local garden club plant trade last year. Someone said it needs room to keep spreading out, so it's still in a post. But the little fronds are starting to unravel!

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  19. AnonymousApril 29, 2010 at 12:07 AM

    Hi SG~~ I LOVE my ostrich fern, although it is a thirsty thing and I must be diligent during our summer's dry months. So worth it though. Your photos could make a believer out of the most skeptical!

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  20. Sue CatmintApril 29, 2010 at 6:35 AM

    Hi SG, lovely fern, and I read in Wikipedia that it's edible and a delicacy in Japan! Have you tried it? Also, I read that it's deciduous. I don't think I have ever encountered a deciduous fern in Australia. Cheers, catmint

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  21. Kate/High Altitude GardeningApril 29, 2010 at 9:59 AM

    Alas, I cannot grow ferns. Well, I can grow them as long as I'm a-okay with brown, brittle ferns! :))

    Yours are lovely, Shady. The pics and the poetry...

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  22. Noelle Johnson April 29, 2010 at 11:58 AM

    They really do look like ostrich plumes don't they? I once fed a real ostrich and it was a little scary. But, I do love ferns :-)

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  23. Shady GardenerApril 29, 2010 at 6:07 PM

    Northern, We "shady" gardeners have a very natural habitat for ferns, do we not? There are many varieties. My neighbor that shared hers with me is amazed at how prolific hers has become! :-)

    Joey, I also appreciate their beauty. Have you checked out a cute little number called 'frizzelliae?'

    Thanks for visiting, Denise. :-)

    Hi Rosemary. Have you ever tried pressing them? They'd be great in one of your cards!

    Snapperoni, Thanks for your visit. I'll have to see if you explain your name! ha.

    Hi Carol, I'm sure you're right. However, the birds are definitely interesting!

    VW, I hope your fern grows well for you. If it's unfurling, that's a good sign! :-)

    Hi Grace, My ferns are in their nearly ideal locations... shade and damp soil (they get rain run-off as we're on a slope). I can understand why you'd work to keep yours going!!

    Catmint, Your information is interesting, to say the least! A delicious deciduous? I'm not sure about deciduous...

    Hi Kate, Thanks. I've endured dry ferns before... ;-)

    Noelle, I'm assuming those ostrich plumes inspired the name of this fern. I would think feeding a live ostrich WOULD be scary because I've always been under the impression that they're not a bit friendly!!

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  24. RoseApril 30, 2010 at 7:15 AM

    A lovely ode, Shady! You are a woman of many talents. I love any type of fern!

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  25. JayApril 30, 2010 at 8:48 AM

    Elegant words which suit the elegant plant they describe!

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  26. Nutty GnomeApril 30, 2010 at 2:34 PM

    Ha ha - your posts always make me chuckle! It's been really nice catching up on what you've been up to ... and I promise I won't go MIA for quite so long next time!

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  27. Shady GardenerApril 30, 2010 at 8:01 PM

    Rose, Thanks! (As are You very talented!) :-)

    Jay, Thank you for your visit.

    Hi Nutty Gnome, I'm always glad for your visits! (Love making you giggle!) ha.

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  28. troutbirderMay 1, 2010 at 7:00 AM

    What a lovely lovely poem Shady!!!

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  29. Shady GardenerMay 1, 2010 at 2:42 PM

    Thanks, troutbirder! :-)

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Thank you for visiting today. I don't mean to make it hard for you to leave a message, but temporarily I am going to enable word verification. Too many spam messages to deal with lately. Thanks for your patience! SG