Okay I've decided, my tree fern is going in the ground!

It appears that growing Dicksonia antarctica—a tree fern native to Australia and Tasmania, which is hardy to USDA Zones 9-10, 8 with winter protection—has reached a sort of critical mass here in Portland. If you've visited the BigJohn/Hicks garden either during last June's Study Weekend or online then you know there are some pretty substantial tree ferns growing there.

In fact back when I first visited in 2020 they were already way ahead of the pack, with sizeable trunks and several years growth already behind them.

Pretty fabulous, right? 

Summer of 2024 I visited Jeff Fairchild's garden in NW Portland, and was in awe of his tree fern (Dicksonia antarctica) collection, this being the tallest.

To stand under a tree fern is a most magical thing.

Back in 2022 I visited Harry Lander's garden in a suburb of Portland. There were tree ferns...

Also of the Dicksonia antarctica persuasion.

Last summer my friend Heather (who geographically is closer to me than any of these other examples) took the plunge. While you might think the subject of this photo is her dog Bee, it's actually the large Dicksonia antarctica on the left, and a smaller one on the right. They're now planted out in her garden but I haven't been invited over to see them IRL yet (hint).

Thanks to Heather for letting me use her photo

Heather is also where I learned of this method of protecting a tree fern, she picked it up from Jeff Fairchild (whom I mentioned above). You cut up the side of a plastic nursery pot and open it to fit around the trunk of your tree fern, obviously the size of the pot depends on the size of your plant. As your plant's trunk grows taller you'll need to stack the pots. You then fill it will grass clippings, straw, leaves, etc., to act as insulation. Make sure to work in plenty of material at the top of the trunk to keep it from freezing. Simple, right?

Thanks to Heather for letting me use her photo

I bought my first tree fern (also a Dicksonia antarctica) back in 2009, it was our Christmas tree that year. 

The poor thing has been growing on in the same pot ever since. There it is as it currently exists, staged along the fence just behind a stock tank.

It has developed a decent trunk.

I bought a second (much much smaller) Dicksonia antarctica last summer, this one was kind of a rescue as the plant and its roots were falling out of the pot it was in at the nursery. I brought it home and replanted it deeper, then slipped it into a conical metal pot that would hold it upright and let it's roots grow strong. 

I also cut back several misshapen fronds, which was hard to do! It seems to be recovering though. 

So anyway... this has turned into a long and rambling post to simply say that next spring I've decided to put this Dicksonia antarctica, and my older one in the ground. Everyone else is doing it, so why can't I?

Roughly something like where those orange ovals are, photo taken at the end of November, not prime garden viewing time.

Here's the same area in the summertime, much better! I *almost* planted both Dicksonia antarctica in the ground last summer, but things were a little unsettled here at the homestead and there was talk of moving. That talk has been shelved for at least a couple years, so now (or well, spring) seems like the right time to act!

The Bit at the End

Protecting things in the garden is the subject here. Each year I relish the deadpan manner in which  Martha (yes, that Martha) shares how she directs her staff to wrap her boxwood alle in burlap. Now she's back with a post about wrapping her empty containers err, ornamental vessels. Enjoy... Covering Planters with Burlap.

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Making the moss Christmas tree

Once I decided to make a moss tree for Christmas I knew right away what the base would be. Thank god I'd saved this chicken-wire covered tomato cage I used back 2017 to make the opuntia Christmas tree, even before that the tomato cage was the base for my "Cousin Itt" tree in 2014.

In case you're curious how the opuntia tree came together there was a "how I did it" post for that one too. 

It was November 12th when I got to work on the moss tree. Having our extra-long outdoor dining table to work on made a huge difference; lots of space, great light, and no need to worry about making a mess. Yes those plastic bags are full of moss.

I sorted the moss into piles according to size and type of moss (going by looks only, I don't know moss at all). 

I used some older dried moss I had on hand, and the loose pieces from this haul, to stuff the inside of the tree form. I feared if I covered only the outside with moss it would dry out too quickly. I then laid the moss over the form and started wrapping with wire. If you've ever made a wreath wrapped with paddle wire this is the same idea. 

Peeking inside before I filled it up the rest of the way.

The finished "tree"...

I made the moss wreath that same day, using an old wreath form I had on hand.

After I finished the tree and the wreath I stored them in our garage until Nov 28th, aka decorating day. I didn't want them getting too wet in the rain, and I didn't want any animals picking at the moss. I did take them out of the garage a couple times and hose them down.

A few days after completing the big tree shape I went ahead and covered the two larger of the three mantel-sized trees. The smallest one was actually my first run at the idea and had been in the basement for weeks getting misted on the regular to see how it would hold up.

These I filled with ripped up paper bags.

And a layer of plastic at the bottom. They were going to be on the painted wood fireplace mantel and I was hoping to cut back on the drips.

Remember the bird that made it into the Christmas scheme? It was a fluke that I happened upon these (very) red birds for 50% off at Pomarius. How could I not take one home for only $3.88?

I used the metal drum the moss tree is sitting on to keep it off the floor in the garage. It was pure luck the form fit right inside the lip. It worked so well that I decided to use it in the house too. 

I think after Christmas I'll pull the moss off the small tree shapes (I don't want them to rust up too badly), but keep the big tomato cage tree intact and take it out to the garden. It will be a fun addition for as long as it lasts.

The Bit at the End

Andrew asked how I was going to bring a moss Christmas tree into the house, without also bringing in a bunch of unwanted critters. That was part of why it was nice to work outside. I thoroughly inspected the moss before I added it to the tree form. I picked off a few beetles, slugs, and worms. Since it was in the garage for a couple weeks I reasoned any remaining creatures a chance to flee. Then I watched this video "Moss, the brilliant green icon of the Pacific Northwest, and the microscopic world it supports" okay so I guess there's an entire wildlife safari in my living room now...

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danger garden Christmas, 2025

It's Christmastime! Which means, I post photos of what our tree looks like this year...

Moss baby!

I'm not sure exactly when inspiration hit, but early in November I knew I wanted to do a moss-covered tree and convinced Andrew to go collect moss with me (we've got a spot where it's legal, or at least not illegal). On Wednesday (next post) I'll share how exactly I made the tree, but today is just full-on holiday decor pics.

At first I was going to wrap the red glass bead garland around the tree and call it good, but it became obvious the moss was kind of a dark light-sink and I needed to add lights. Yes, the star is a tillandsia and that's another moss tree up on the mantel.

I've only made two wreaths this year, this one a combination of Mahonia x media 'Marvel' and Disporum longistylum 'Night Heron'

It's aging quite well, thankfully. You never know how unusual materials will react to being used in a wreath.

Looking at the mantel, left to right.

Yes, those are two more moss trees. I've had these three metal forms (now covered with moss) since the mid-90's, when I bought them at a Nordstrom after Christmas sale (they turn up in nearly every Christmas decor post that I've done). The elephant in the room, or bird on the branch, was an unplanned addition that just flew in. It helped to make sense of the Arctostaphylos branch I'd added but wasn't really working the way I'd hoped.

A mossy log (a thick branch-sized log, but a log none-the-less) anchors the elements and almost disappears, reading as a green base.

I was thrilled to find small poinsettias, as I wanted their red, but in a small dose to balance the red ribbon, beaded garland, and eventually the red bird.

I've lost track of where I found the interesting conifer cones.

The sparkle wreath, snow flake, and ornaments have been with me for years.

The third small moss tree got lights.

Looking back to the left...

The front-door wreath is also moss, and there are lights that I keep forgetting to turn on. Although it looks like they were on when I took this photo.

The aluminum wreath is up in the bedroom.

The only other decorations are in the bathroom where things are bright.

This little framed tree image dates way back as well. I'm always happy when I can work it into the holiday mix.

I did eventually add a star to the top of the glass ornament tree. I can't believe I uploaded the earlier photo without one.

So that's Christmas '25 here...what does it look like at your house?

The Bit at the End

Today I've got two Instagram Reels that show people getting creative and making Christmas trees out of twigs, vines, and other found bits of nature. First: "Built from fallen branches, seed pods and fresh botanicals" and this one: "Last year we made a base scaffold in the shape of a "fir tree" out of stable branches and then wrapped it with wild clematis branches" enjoy!

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All material © 2009-2025 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.