Fern Assortment Group Buy from North Creek

Many people favor natives because they support the native fauna species. Often, hybrids may look fine to us but are are unusable to the members of the local ecosystem for various reasons. Labeling hybrids as "native" because they have some native genes sells plants but defeats the reason many are buying natives, and NC certainly knows what they are doing.

Sorry for the confusion and shame shame on North Creek. It was me who refered to 'TasselFern as a native (I've corrected my post above) not North Creek!

North Creek has two listings for fern they handle, one which covers all ferns and another under Native Plants heading
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=plants.nativePlants&alphaKey=ALL&whichName=genus&showIntro=0&typeID=3


Here is what MOBOT says about Athyrium felix femina Victoriae
http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=242041&isprofile=0&letter=a
"Athyrium filix-femina, commonly called lady fern, is a deciduous fern that features lacy-cut, 2 to 3-pinnate or pinnatifid, finely-divided, lanceolate, light green fronds which grow in a dense circular shuttlecock-like clump to 2-3' tall. Each frond (leaf) has twenty to thirty pairs of elliptic non-opposite pinna (leaflets) with narrow pointed tips. Each pinna is divided into deeply-cut lanceolate to oblong pinnules (subleaflets). Sori and indusia are found on the undersides of the pinnules. This is a circumglobal species which is found in rich moist woods, thickets, fields, meadows and ravines throughout northern North America, Europe and Asia."

Victoriae is on North Creek Native plants list, but not Branford Rambler 'Ghost' or Tassel. My reading of North Creek descriptions finds no reference to their being native. So, lol, maybe they DO know what they are doing! Only Dryopteris,goldiana, marginalis and x australis are listed under their heading Native plants.

Lazy SS refers to Ghost as sterile hybrid
" Athyrium x 'Ghost' Ghost Fern Part ShadeFull Shade Zone: 4-8

Athyrium x 'Ghost' Ghost FernA hybrid between Southern Lady Fern and Japanese Painted - a combination that produced a beauty in the Virginia garden of Nancy Swell. Stunning Silver fronds in spring with bluish to maroon midribs give way to a blue-green color in summer. This rigidly upright fern is a sterile hybrid that doesn't produce spores and comes only from divisions. It can eventually reach near mammoth widths and can be used as a groundcover. Takes deep shade but best color develops in dappled shade. A very formal fern, it's marvelous with green Hostas.

This message was edited Mar 2, 2014 2:05 PM

The basic species Athyrium filix-femina is indeed a circumglobal species, but the variant 'Victoriae' is not, but a part of the British Isles gene pool.

Athyrium x 'Ghost' is a wonderful fern, one of my favorites, and being sterile it does not skew the local native genetics.

At the NC pages for the individual ferns they clearly list "Native to Northeast" under "Attributes" for Athyrium x Branford Rambler and Athyrium x Ghost. They know what they are doing alright.

There are plenty of places out back that can get a bit boggy or be quite dry, depending on the kind of summer we're having. So a fern that can tolerate some dry conditions (at least between waterings) once established would get my vote!

Of the two lady-ferns (Athyrium felix-femina) we're discussing, I also prefer Lady in Red over Victoreae, but I'd be OK going with both if V. is one of Coleup's top picks.

I'd like to add my vote for Tassel Fern, too -- it's just such a pretty plant!

I have a struggling ostrich fern out front that I need to move to a (hopefully) happier spot, and that's really all the ostrich fern I need, but I'm not concerned... I think it'll be easy enough to shuffle some ferns between us after we figure out this order.

Heya! Anybody interested in Astilbes, Phlox (P. paniculata, tall garden phlox), or other goodies from ADR this spring? Thread is up! Bare root, pick up at the spring plant swap or from me the week before. :-)

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1352109/

Considering the preferences expressed above, I tallied up the pluses and minuses as follows

Pretty clear we want these: all positives and wanteds
3 + Athyrium felix-femina 'Lady in Red' (5,25)
3 + Athyrium x Ghost (4.50)
3 + Athyrium niponicum Regal Red (4.50)
3 + Dryopteris erythrosora 'Briiiance' (4.50)

As well as these: 3 positives and some don't wants
3 + 2 - Dryopteris goldiana (3.00) Greenthumb /Aspenhill will take unwanteds
3 + 3 - Matteuccia Ostrich Fern (1.75) Aspenhill will take unwanteds
3 + 2 - Dryopteris x australis (4.50) Greenthumb 8 plants
Seven varieties totaling 18 ferns in assortment

Which leaves these to be determined:
3 + 1 - Athyrium x Branford Rambler (4.95) hybrid spreader
2 + 3 - Athyrium felix-femina Victoriae (5.25) 3 Prefer 'Lady in Red" a native fern
1 + Dryopteris marginalis (4.50) native fern handles dry shade once established
2 + Polystichum polyblepharum Korean Tassel fern ($4.50) non native beauty

Newly available:
Phegopteris decursive-pinnata(Thelypteris) Japanese Beech Fern (5.25)
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Phegopteris-decursive-pinnata-
1 + Woodwardia virginica (5,25) Greenthumb 8 plants native fern
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Woodwardia-virginica-

thanks for pulling all this info together, Coleup. You might have my vote on these already, but just in case:

Athyrium x Branford Rambler--no
Athyrium felix-femina Victoriae--prefer Lady in Red
Dryopteris marginalis--yes
Polystichum polyblepharum Korean Tassel fern--yes

Phegopteris decursive-pinnata(Thelypteris) Japanese Beech Fern--described as 'vigorous spreader' so my vote is no
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Phegopteris-decursive-pinnata-

Woodwardia virginica (5,25)--seems to prefer moist soil but would like to support it and I might have space for one in my limited 'moist shade' area
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/plantName/Woodwardia-virginica-

I don't think there are any on the list that I really couldn't find a spot for... especially anything that could take conditions that were occasionally hot/dry... even the "spreaders" on our list seem like they're readily controlled, so I look at that more as "provides new divisions." The only one that seems like it could get thuggish is Woodwardia virginica, but only if grown in very moist spots rather than in "ordinary garden conditions."

My only "no" votes are for
Athyrium felix-femina Victoriae--prefer Lady in Red
Ostrich Fern -- I just prefer the looks of the other large ferns (the two Dryopteris) we're considering

and if those end up on our final list, that's OK.

My big must-haves are already on our "settled" list, with maybe an extra nod for "Rambler"

I'm ok with whatever is decided. Actually, no real preference here as I am mostly interested in adding variety to the collection.

coleup

I got kinda confused here.

I really would like at least 5 of the ostrich ferns if nothing else

Thanks

Yehudith

lol Yehudith, I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets a little confused! To be clear then, you want the fern assortment (approximately 30 ferns for approximately $45) and you want your assortment to have at least 5 Ostrich Ferns. If this is correct, I'm confident that there can be 5 Ostrich Ferns in your assortment..

Are there any ferns you do not want or want fewer of?

Coleup you can give Yehudith my Ostrich Fern and any of the other tall varieties. Or if it is easier Yehudith and I can trade them ourselves after we get them from you. BTW when do we pay for the Ferns?

Holly, we still need 2 more people to make up the ten shares, so don't trade away anything just yet! I've been keeping an account of wants and don't wants to adjust our 'assortments' so not to worry.

Those in for a share of fern assortment are: Green thumb, Green thumb sister, Umdterp, Aspenhill, Critter, Holly, Catmint and Yehudith. This leaves 2 shares available.

Even with a ten way split there will be some odds and ends and extras!

As far as I know, all Fern Assortment Payments will go to Aspenhill either when she picks up and drops off sometime after the 21st of April (most of the ferns) or after May 12 at the Swap.

Thanks

Coleup, you're not wanting ferns yourself? I could probably do another share for Mom, although I can also step aside from that 2nd share (at least until I tell her about them LOL) if somebody else wants them.

If anybody was thinking they might be interested in astilbes or phlox etc. from ADR if it weren't for dealing with bare root plants, Terri & I were thinking that we might get bare root plants delivered earlier this spring and have a "potting up party" to make sure we got them planted. We're also looking at liatris, dahlias and gladiolus. If interested, please go here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1352109/#top

Just wondering how the Fern Co-op is coming along.

All of these ferns are 'on order' from North Creek.
If we get two more to request a share there will be approximately 3 of each of 10-11 fern varieties. If we don't get te sharers, we'll drop a fern or two and have four of each kind (with adjustments)We have 3- 6 weeks to figure it out, I have a plan! Thanks for asking. Holly

Athyrium felix-femina 'Lady in Red' (5,25)
Athyrium x Branford Rambler (4.95) hybrid spreader
Athyrium felix-femina Victoriae (5.25) 3 Prefer 'Lady in Red" a native fern
Athyrium x Ghost (4.50)
Athyrium niponicum Regal Red (4.50)
Dryopteris x australis (4.50) Greenthumb 8 plants
Dryopteris erythrosora 'Briiiance' (4.50)
Dryopteris goldiana (3.00) Greenthumb /Aspenhill will take unwanteds 2 per share
Dryopteris marginalis (4.50) native fern handles dry shade once established
Matteuccia Ostrich Fern (1.75) Aspenhill will take unwanteds 1 per share
Polystichum polyblepharum Korean Tassel fern ($4.50) non native beauty

UPDATE: First part of fern orders were wll received and looked good at the Divy up at SSG's on Wed afternoon. Now to complete the second half of the fern assortment order and some other ordered plants that Terri was not able to put on her final North Creek PO.

The following are on order with North Creek under my account with who has spoken for what indicated.
Ferns from the Fern Assortment:
aspen 2/10, catmint 1/10, critter 2/10, greenthumb 2/10, holly 1/10, terp 1/10, yehudith 1/10
-Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red'
-Athyrium niponicum 'Regal Red'
-Athyrium x Branford Rambler
-Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
-Dryopteris goldiana

Other flats on order and spoken for
Asclepias on back order coleup full flat
New England Aster on back order catmint 1/4, coleup 1/2 JS 1/4
Rudbeckia fulgida var fulgida /72/ catmint 1/4. js 1/4 muddy 1/2
Vernonia glauca full flat Coleup
Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' / 32 / aspen 1/4, catmint 1/4, coleup 1/4, greenthumb 1/4

Other flats on order with shares available
Geranium 'Expresso' (possible addition as availability good if enough interest)
Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' / 32 /
Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' / 72 / coleup 1/2

Not avail until 9/1 but ordered
Pachysandra procumbins / 32 / critter 1/4, greenthumb 1/4, muddy 1/2

To make this happen it will take reconfirmation for shares already spoken for and filling of open shares.

Need a volunteer to coordinate this and generate additional interest if necessary. Will need volunteer to invoice and collect payments so there is one person to pay who then pays me so I can pay North Creek by pick up date. Will need plans and possible volunteers for pick up from North Creek and Divy up as we may wish to do this prior to the swap. Some of us may need to babysit plants and be plant faeries for others...etc.

First let's see if there is continued interest in the flats on order.

Thanks. Judy

I would vote for completing these orders!

Edited to say that I'm no longer interested in Pachysandra procumbens.

I want to cancel my share of Rudbeckia fulgida, however (sorry CatMint!).

This message was edited Apr 26, 2014 8:21 PM

Judy,

I would love the rest of the ferns assortment. I have too much on my plate to commit to further assistance with the order, sorry. If the rest of the ferns don't happen as a result, no sweat.

Judy, I will still take the rest of the fern assortment I ordered and I would like some of the Viola walteri 'Silver Gem' prefer the 32 flat size and Geranium 'Expresso' I really only need 3-6 each but could if you need me to take 1/4 flat of each as I am pretty sure I can get rid of the extras.

hi, Coleup. I would also enjoy having the rest of the fern assortment and the Silver Gem that I am already down for.

In terms of the New England Aster and the Rudbeckia, I am assuming we still need these for the MWS kits, right? Since it is 2 nectar plants for every milkweed? I will still support these, since we need them to go with the flats of milkweed.

In light of the article that Speedie posted on 'bad milkweed', I'm wondering whether we should go ahead with the tropical milkweed?

JUDY!!! What is going on??

It was quite clearly set out that, going forward, TERRI would handle the remaining misc perennials (the "general perennial group buy" -- specifically, the ferns & violas, and any add-ons like the geraniums), and YOU would concentrate on your Monarch Waystation plants. That's a wonderful project, and it deserves your full attention.

You keep changing , all on your own, who is doing what with these orders, even when things have been clearly defined, and it makes things extremely confusing for everybody, especially Terri and the folks at North Creek, I'm sure. Since you originally got involved with this in order to HELP Terri & our group, could we please go back to the way it was being handled just 3 days ago?

Ah, I just checked Terri's thread and see that she threw up her hands and decided to try to avoid additional complications by bowing out. With apologies to those who were with me in the fern order, I am bowing out also.

Judy: So I don't have anything queued up in your upcoming orders then, right? So I'm done -- yay!

This North Creek group buy, which began as a simple, straightforward arrangement has been "helped" into an absolute nightmare and hijacked so that plants that were originally part of it are now in a separate arrangement under control of the self-appointed supposed "helper". I hereby withdraw myself and my sister from ANY further participation in ANY part this project, ferns or other plants, and apologize to those choosing to continue for any impact this may have.

I don't really need the other half of my ordered fern assortment. Most of them I was going to give to a couple of friends. So it doesn't matter if the fern assortment is cancelled.

Coleup, please cancel my share of Pachysandra procumbens in addition to the Rudbeckia fulgida. I have too much going on to keep track of all this; it's making my brain hurt !

Am at a garden center now, just found a pot of p procumbens. $18. Would be nice to get the lower price

Please help me clear something up!

So... Have we ordered a second flat of Viola Silver Gem, 32 plug size?

It looks like Holly has asked for some of the second flat. Can I have as much as half or 3/4 of the second flat? Please let me know if this is not being ordered. I'll see if anyone wants to sell me just one plus so I can trial it in a sunny spot to see if it tolerates it.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2014 10:47 AM

I would definitely vote for continuing the purchase of the viola silver gem. When l asked about it at a couple nurseries yesterday I got a negative response from both-- no plans to carry it. :-(

I also picked up a pot of the p procumbens yesterday--$18! And it looks bedraggled. Only one I could find.

SSG if I add in your request for Viola 'Silver Gem' in the 32 plug size to the confirmed and reconfirmed shares of the two flats I placed an order for long ago under my account with North Creek for pick up week of 5/19.

Viola 'Silver Gem' /32/ 2 flats ordered total 64 plants in quarter shares of 8 plants
Quarter shares spoken for
Catmint 1
Coleup 1
Holly 1
SSG 3
Two shares available

Don't know how long the ones I saw in Fern Vally at the National Arboretum on Sat have been growing there, but they all looked in good shape and yes, 'cute' and more diminutive than other native violets represented height wise but forming nice 6-8 inch clumps that really fit in well everywhere they were.

Re Fern Assortment

I'm thinking that since there are fewer people into sharing ferns on order that maybe we could pick 2-3 favorites to drum up additional interest in? Or just take 6 each of three ferns instead of 3 each of 6 ferns. Costs the same but less assortment!

On Order under my account with North Creek
-Athyrium filix-femina 'Lady in Red'
-Athyrium niponicum 'Regal Red'
-Athyrium x Branford Rambler
-Dryopteris erythrosora 'Brilliance'
-Dryopteris goldiana

Thoughts?

I'm interested in 3 of each, 6 is too many for me. If we can't find buyers for the additional shares my vote is to 86 it.

I agree with Terp.

I don't really need more ferns, I was planning on passing them on to some friends.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2014 3:33 PM

Hi all. This thread recently came to our attention, and it looks like the proverbial horse is out of the barn, and it's way too late to close the door. But a gentle reminder that all future group purchases and "co-ops" are supposed to go here: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/f/bulletins/all/

Yes, you have to pay to start each thread, but after third and final attempt to allow co-ops within our forums, we felt that was the best compromise because vendors can openly run their own sales/co-ops without having to try to find a "front man" (or woman) to run it for them, and if someone wants to add a profit margin for running a co-op, that is their prerogative.

Keeping all the sales traffic in the classifieds area helps us enforce our Terms of Use, which prohibit any selling in our forums. And that is how we can keep spam, scams, multi-level marketing spiels, at-home sale parties, and other gimmicky stuff from cluttering up the discussion forums.

We're not going to pull the plug on this one because it's already so far gone, but we do ask that future purchases like this should go through the proper channels.

Happy gardening,
Terry