A pyrrosia scavenger hunt, at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden

This year, during my annual February stop at the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, I tried to stick to a few themes when snapping photos. Typically I just point the camera at anything that catches my eye (not a bad way to experience a beautiful garden), but not this time. One of my themes, pyrrosia, a scavenger hunt of sorts. The RSBG covers 22 acres. Within that space there are several main paths, and many others that are less traveled. I try to vary my route and I am often rewarded by something unexpected, like a pyrrosia growing in a downed log. The trick is being able to find that planting again the next time I visit.

I started in the Rutherford Conservatory, where I knew there were a few pyrrosia worth visiting. This handsome fellow is without signage.

At the base here is Pyrrosia sp. SEH#1511 (if my records are correct).

Out in the garden, and on one of those secondary paths, is a favorite log (branch?) planting. I think this is also Pyrrosia sp. SEH#1511.

The rhizomes are reaching out... look at that happy little frond!

Another NoID, although it's very P. lingua-esque.

This was a new find on this visit.

Which is also P. lingua-esque (the sign above is referencing something else).

Pyrrosia sheareri in the RSBG/HFF stumpery. 

Also in the stumpery, this tiny little fellow. It looks a lot like one I bought from Far Reaches Farm as Pyrrosia davidii.

And more of that Pyrrosia sp. SEH#1511.

I think this one might be P. sp. SEH#12547 (but don't quote me on that).

Last summer when I visited the RSBG with the Fling group I snapped this shot of a nice Pyrrosia sheareri clump, darned if I could find it again on this visit!

I did stumble across this planting though, which was new to me.

Lonicera crassifolia

And more Pyrrosia sp. SEH#1511, I believe (if you've got it, flaunt it!).

Perhaps P. sp. SEH#12547 again?

Okay that's it for the pyrrosia scavenger hunt, but I have a few more more fern photos to share. This cutie (Polypodium scouleri?) was growing tucked in a mossy tree crotch (sorry, I just can't think of another word to describe it)...

Headed to the stumpery I took the long way around the pond...

And was rewarded with a spectacular lichen sighting... I think this might be Peltigera membranacea...

Pretty cool!

Finally, a few photos from the stumpery, which was looking fine in February.

Chrysosplenium macrophyllum

They (Chrysosplenium macrophyllum) carpeted this area...

We will return to the RSBG for Friday's blog post and a look at a few of the plants (non fern) that I grow which are also growing in the garden, and a few other "lust worthy" plants I photographed on my visit.

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The Berk/Kessler Garden, a Puget Sound Fling stop

My visit to the Berk/Kessler Garden in Seattle was on the "bonus" Monday of the Garden Fling weekend last July. I'd been wanting to tour this garden since I first saw it from across the street, while visiting the Bednarksi garden, during the 2022 NPA Study Weekend event. 

In the intervening years I learned the garden belonged to Bonnie Berk, whom I know as the president of the Hardy Fern Foundation, I was thrilled to finally visit Bonnie's garden...

From our Fling brochure: "Welcome to Casa Nirvana, a tapestry garden that brings together art, color, history, plants, and many passions. 

History and site: designed in 1916 by noted Seattle Architect Arthur Loveless, our house sits high above the street, in the historic Mt. Baker neighborhood. Layered terraces frame the stairway; these were carved into the hillside in 2000 to manage the steep slope, as part of a complete hardscape renovation project...The unusual, large side garden is defined by a towering, 20-foot hedge, original to the house, although much taller. 

Plants! This is a plant collector's garden, with an uncounted number of unusual specimens acquired from specialty nurseries on both coasts. The collection is broad and eclectic, from rare shrubs and ferns to aeoniums in profusion. The garden's development has been informed by visiting gardens in the US and Europe, by workshops in England and Great Dixter, and especially our region's great plant explorers. The underlying theme is foliage—bold, variegated, black, unusual."

Let's head up those steps and see what there is to see...

Oh hey, there's Bonnie, come to greet us.

It looks like Bonnie loves gardening with containers too, and she's got a succulent table! (the sunny answer to the popular fern table)

Glancing to the side of the staircase, that's some seriously dense planting...(dare I call it cramscaping?)

Hydrangea macrophylla Eclipse®

Succulent perfection!

Time to make my way up and see what's at house level, of course I had to stop and admire things along the way.

Wowsa, that's a green wall back drop!

Some of those "aeoniums in profusion" mentioned in the garden description.

Sinopanax formosanus

The meeting of the saxifrage.

Pyrrosia lingua ‘Hiryu’, I believe.

Blechnum spicant, aka Struthiopteris spicant

One of the painted ferns, Athyrium niponicum, I never can tell them apart.

Adiantum aleuticum var. subpumilim

A few of my fellow Flingers, taking it all in.

Bonnie is definitely not afraid of bold color, and I love the pot full of gardening tools.

Strobilanthes gossypinus

Leucadendron 'Ebony'

More of the plants up against the tall green wall hedge.

Hey, is that Red Fred? (Begonia 'Red Fred'), I need to ask Bonnie where she overwinters all of the not hardy plants, cause she has a lot of them.

Pyrrosia lingua 'Cristata'

Walking up to the deck/patio area at the front side of the home.

Marcia Donahue pottery mulch?

Our time here has drawn to a close...

Thanks for letting us wander around your beautiful garden Bonnie!

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