My friends sent me this picture of some ferns growing in their yard, and asked if I'd ever written a blog about it.

 

I just looked it up, and now I know WHY I've never written about it.  I understand the words when I'm reading about vascular plants.  But, when I read about ferns, I don't even understand the words!!!  Words like stipes, pinnae, like that.

 

Anyway, I love this fern growing in our woods too, so I looked it up again.  The stipes (stems) are shiny black, and the leaflets are arranged in a semi-circle, creating a very unusual looking fern.

 

Its botanical name is Adiantum pedatum, or northern maidenhair fern.  There are several varieties too, but let's just call it maidenhair fern, and enjoy it.

 

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!