The paving for our drive way has been there eleven years .. the ostrich fern .. well about 5 or 6 years ago I started out with ONE plant ... but they are usually gentle souls .. smell heavenly .. fill a green space in deplorable conditions and never complain .. ( now look down at the bottom of this picture and scroll to the next ) ..
BUT .....
.... they make me wonder how determined and muscular they truly are ??
Nature will happen where ever it WANTS to ?
24 comments:
Ostrich ferns have a mind of their own, Joy! Love the look of your blog ... lovely photos :)
Joy:
Indeed.... as beautiful as they are, they have a resiliant determination that, like Lily of the Valley, got the better of me a year ago, and I yanked as many out as I could. Of course this year they are back, albeit much smaller, but back nonetheless. Guess some things are better left alone. I have a Euphorbia that likes to seed itself in the cracks of the sidewalk. Small. Delightfully fern like.
I have some that are 4' tall this spring. They can be annoying as well as beautiful.
Amazing what some plants will do! I've been reluctant to plant these since I know they can spread like mad, but did add a few in a hard to grow spot last year. We'll see what they decide to do...
I only hope it didn't *make* that crack! lol. Who knew a fiddlehead could be so tough?? :)
Wow! That's a strong plant for sure!
oh if only we all had the determination to grow and prosper. I think the humble ostrich fern is a good role model - let nothing get in the way of you being all you can be! :)
Thanks Joey girl .. this is another pretrial template but I am becoming very fond of it ? LOL
Hey there Barry (aka Pats .. I still see the impossible beehive, black eyes and that ciggy cloud ? LOL) You are so right ! .. and that little weed you warned me about last year ? yup ! I am chasing it every where .. jeez !
Some plants are just determined to take over the world ! haha
Wow Lisa girl ! sounds more like those other giant ferns .. Royal ? cinnamon ? something that are huge .. and yes it is a love hate relationship isn't it ? LOL
Rebecca girl .. I put them in impossible places and by golly they make it ..and I can yank them out if they becoming to over bearing so it is a "yes&no" type deal with me ? :)
Ms S .. it actually DID MAKE THIS CRACK ! that is why I stood there staring at it so long shaking my head !!eeekkkkk ! how on earth ?? LOL .. I just can't believe it !
gittan do you have them over there ? Have you annoying plants besides the Sumac ? have you gotten rid of the Sumac ? LOL
Carrie girl you popped in between comments here ! Now isn't that a perfect way to look at this determination ! So true .. but we need a lot of rest while we figure out how to do that ? LOL
Now I will forever think of this fern and what it accomplished ! : )
Wow, I've never had much success with them since our summers are brutal. That is one persistant plant, lol! :)
It is amazing how plants will find a way to grow sometimes. On my hikes in the woods around here it is so beautiful to see ferns, violets and plants growing in little crevasses in rocks, logs, trees. You just have to let that determined fern grow Joy. I planted one in the woods bed last year and it is good to know it will spread out there.
On the side of my uncle's paved driveway, the irises have actually heaved up the edge of the asphalt in places. Some things really are determined to "bloom where they're...scattered"? That poor garden has fallen by the wayside...shame. But I intend to divide some of his perennials for my small beds here. :) He'd like that.
My aunt had a sorbaria sorbifolia that spread under her concrete swimming pool. I'm always amazed when you pull a plant out of the ground and see the soft gentle little roots to realize how many muscles must be contained inside.
It always amazes me that a plant can put down roots where a shovel has a hard time going.
I transplanted a couple of ferns this week that were coming up under my back porch.
Joy, I love to find things growing in the cracks of the front walk, only to discover it'a a plant from last year that seeded there. I found a little dahlberg daisy last week right in the middle of the walkway. It is so cute, and had buds all over it! Love it!
Yeah, my ferns are coming up through the cardboard and 8 inches of dirt in my raised bed. They sure are determined!
That is determination! They look so delicate, I would never think they could break through a driveway.
Hi Joy, Sorry I've been away so long. Guess where I've been.
I love Ostrich ferns. One sure way to kill them is to let the soil dry out. I know because I'm a Hard Knocks graduate, remember? LOL
I say dig it out, give it away or find another place for it. Or start acquiring plant divisions to sell.
Love your sidebar photos! Cheers.
Racquel girl ! these guys are so mischievous they try to sneak in places you couldn't think they would survive long .. I am surprised you have a hard time getting them to be happy there .. should I mail one of mine to you ? LOL ;-)
Lona .. I remember as a kid how utterly amazing the woods were .. plants would pop up in places that were remarkable .. one of the firs scents I fell in love with were ferns .. to this day they are a comfort zone to me .. I don't mind most places they pop up in , and this one ? a conversation piece ! LOL : )
Nancy girl ! I'm sure you uncle would be so pleased .. a question came up on "Recreating Eden" about how we feel when we leave this earth about what will happen to our gardens when we poured so much of ourselves into them .. it will be something that really isn't in my hands I'm sure .. but it did make me think for a bit ? Iris can do that ! wow ! LOL .. yup ! when they are determined .. they ARE determined ! LOL
Hello there Barbrapc girl : )
I had that plant (a lot of plants seem to be called "false spirea eh ?) and realized how vigorous a spreader it was .. even if it struck me pretty .. it scared me ? LOL .. and a big yes to wondering how those delicate feeder roots can do what they do ? LOL
Sandy girl .. I had that same thought quite a few times .. how do THEY do THAT when I struggle with a spade ? .. then the pick ? my husband bought for me .. sort of a mini pick .. well, that works like a charm .. wish I had that sooner on in my garden adventures ! Ha ! : )
Linda girl ! I have been stunned to see portulaca seed it self a couple of years in the brick work of the patio (old one) I never thought the seeds would survive our winters .. it was amazing ! So YES ! I understand what you mean and it must be too cute !
Cinj .. I was just so shocked to see this happen .. I must have stared at it forever and mulled it over in my mind .. just could NOT believe it ? LOL
Catherine girl : ) that is their master plan to rule the world .. to look VERY innocent and yet be every where they can and trick us ? LOL
Grace girl ! Thank you : )
Now you have me curious .. where have you been ? LOL .. hey .. Canadian ferns must be hardier girl, wink wink, because I have some in baking sand that just won't give up .. another one is Gold Creeping Jenny .. I can't believe where that will grow either ! .. I use it as living mulch ? haha .. Yup .. I will be giving some away soon .. people seem to love them no matter what ? ;-)
OMG! I'm shocked!! We grow Ostrich Ferns and while they're strong growers, they detest hot dry weather, so if I don't keep them moist, they balk.
I love this!
Hey Kylee ! we must be on our computers browsing at the same time ? LOL .. These ferns will grow anywhere for me .. but if they are in a spot I'm not too happy with , at least I can tug them out without too much a problem .. but this with the asphalt ? it was an EYE-POPPER ! LOL
At my place it's the Columbines. They happily seed and decorate the cracks in my sidewalks and driveway. I suppose it's too dry to grow ferns out my way but they are pretty wherever they decide to make an appearance.
Say, I took your advice and order the Morden Sunset rose. I have 3 of them arriving soon. :)
Wow, Joy! Crazy! If anyone is ever wondering how tough these "tender" plants are, try dividing a pot of ferns. Good grief...I thought the shovel might break!!! So although this little "soft" fern seems innocent, it's tougher than a mama tiger protecting its young! Impressive!!!
Kate girl ! I am sure ferns would adapt to your conditions .. these ostrich ferns are in baking rocks and clay soil .. actually they are great for breaking clay soil .. so they are TOUGH !
Did you mean to type Morden Sunrise Kate ?? LOL .. that is the rose I am crazy about and I also planted another one too .. can't get enough of her ? I also planted a JP Connell which is a very hardy one from the description .. so I will keep you posted on how it does and maybe talk you into that one too ? hehehe
Kimberly how true is that ! I actually have a BIG knife I use to finally cut through stubborn roots like that .. I have to buy another pitch fork to do the two back to back method of separating the roots .. but holy smokes ! Talk about stubborn tough plants ? LOL
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