It's in the ground!

When last we saw my new tree fern (a Dicksonia antarctica) I was working out exactly where I was going to plant it...

I tackled the planting job on August 15th. Removing the container I was curious to see what the root mass would look like.

Wow, it had definitely been in that pot for awhile.

I cut a slice off the bottom, about an inch, inch and a half thick.

Sometimes when you cut away the roots at the bottom of container the soil just falls away, because the roots were only circling at the edge of the container and not growing in the center. I was glad to see that was not the case here...

So which of the potential spots did I decide to plant in? The one I'd always thought would be a great location. The one I abandoned earlier in the spring when I decided not to plant out my oldest tree fern (I wrote about that in the middle of this post). 

X marks the spot...

Of course my biggest concern was Clifford's roots. You can see in the photo above that I was planning to dig a good size hole just 5-6 feet away from the Magnolia macrophylla trunk. 

Tying up the tall Adiantum pedatum fronds at the back of the planting area, next to the garage wall, revealed a bit of empty space.

I started digging. The ground was quite dry, even though I'd been watering the area all week in preparation for planting. I ended up with a hole roughly 14" deep and 13" wide. It doesn't look that big in the photo does it?

As you can see there were lots of roots damaged in the process, thankfully none larger than my index finger. I hope Clifford won't be too upset.

Andrew helped me pick up the tree fern and drop it into place.

Here the Adiantum pedatum fronds were set free...

Then I returned the tall bromeliad to it's pipe pedestal against the garage wall.

Finally it was time to untie the tree fern fronds...

It's interesting what an impact the small Dicksonia antarctica I planted this spring (on the left, with only a 4" trunk) has in these photos. The new plant on the right is a double, twins, with a 12" and 14" trunk, yet the small one isn't being overshadowed.

This is also where I should share that we've named the new twins; Fern.

There's the oldest of my Dicksonia antarctica, around the corner, at the back of the garage, in the metal container. It's put on a lot of new growth this summer, thanks to a brighter spot, some new soil and fertilizer.

I decided not to fertilize Fern, since we're heading into the colder part of the year. I'll wait until spring for that. She has however thrown out a couple of new fronds since being planted in the ground.

I've been talking with local gardening friends with Dicksonia antarctica planted out, ones they've overwintered successfully. I'm thinking on my winter protection strategy so I won't be caught unprepared. Who knows what lies ahead for winter 2026-27?

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And then we walked Buffalo's Allentown neighborhood

As I mentioned earlier (somewhere?) each afternoon of the Buffalo Fling we were kicked off the buses set free to walk a neighborhood and stop at open gardens, via a map included in our Fling program. These neighborhoods and open gardens were ones that the locals would also be touring as part of the annual Garden Walk Buffalo event. This is a city that loves sharing its gardens!

Friday afternoon we walked the Allentown neighborhood. The first stop (if my records are accurate, and who knows since I was a hot and tired Flinger attempting to navigate via printed map) for my friends and I was Bob Fink's garden...

The garden description from the Fling Program (I'll include these for the rest of the gardens without the introduction): "This well-kept house, like many in Allentown, contrasts an open, welcoming front yard garden with a secluded backyard oasis. The elegant koi pond and waterfall has inhabitants who are more than 12 years old and the unusual carriage house that forms the backdrop is ornamented with architectural remnants from a demolished church. Don’t miss the next door neighbor’s front yard. Not something you see every day."

Throughout the tours the pathways into the back gardens were tight, the space between the back buildings (garages or carriage houses) were even tighter.

Headed back out to the streetside, a ginormous colocasia hides an A/C unit.

This sparkly black gravel front garden was on one side. 

And a small putting green was on the other side, this was the front garden teased in the earlier description.

The next garden we visited belonged to Dennis and Jim Martinez.

Again a long narrow entry led to the back garden...

"This is as small as it gets, even in Allentown, but the tiny space is packed with well-chosen shade perennials and annuals, as well as artistic brickwork and saucy decorative accents. It’s a textbook example of how to carve out all the respite you need from city life and sounds."

How I would love to have a nice big screened porch like this...

Nephrolepis sp. I believe.

Shiny Begonia!

Our next stop, the home of Catherine and Matt Lincoln; "The Lincoln front garden features shade annuals, perennials and shrubs. Walk down the drive way to see more features in the back patio, including a trompe l’oeil painting and the hidden potting bench"

I didn't get a shot of the trompe l’oeil painting but I did get this wall installation which I really wanted to add more plants to...

There was also a semi-spooky door to an area one might imagine in a horror film?

Or maybe it's the garden storage area of your dreams? (I think the hidden potting bench referenced in the description might have been in here, on the other side)

The next garden belonged to longtime Flinger and Garden Rant writer Elizabeth Licata and her partner Alan Bigelow. This is another garden that has been featured on PlantPop.com (here).

The front porch...

"These surprisingly expansive garden beds wrap around three sides of the Victorian Italianate house. Custom-made features include a water wall, birdbath, fountain, mural, and sculpture to provide focal points and the sound of water. Plantings are very dense. (The gardener likes a full look.) They include shade perennials in front and along the side of the house, and then the garden opens out into a bright courtyard lined with pots, flower beds and vines."

Mural on the house side of the garage.

The door to the alley way was open and I had to see what that building across the way was all about...

Pretty cool!

Tucking back into the garden proper...

The next and final garden for the afternoon belonged to Mark Di Giampaolo. To be honest I have no idea if this photo is his front garden, or that of a neighbor. But I thought it was fabulous so needed to include it.

I'm pretty sure however that this was Mark's front garden...

"One of many Buffalo gardeners who has converted what would have been a driveway to a secluded, tranquil garden, Mark DiGiampaolo has a collector’s aesthetic that can be seen in the sculpture and other objects careful placed within this small rectangular garden. Plantings include an eclectic mix of tall perennials, containers and shrubs."

There were lots of things to discover in this garden...

Ligularia looked so good in Buffalo!!!

Limited space was not keeping this gardener from growing a wide selection of plants.

Okay, get ready. Here comes something I never expected to see in a garden...

Yep. The "golden arches"...

Mark said he was inspired by Mary Tyler Moore's iconic M and sought out an M of his own.

My maiden name is Moore, so really, I could have an M in my garden too... but I think I'd rather have those great stone platforms...

I loved the green on green of this NoID Hosta. I'd still cut off the blooms though, if it were in my garden.

I was surprised to see a photo with no people, in my memory there were several milling about in this space.

Up on the deck.

Passiflora coccinea 

And this concludes day one of the '26 Garden Fling in Buffalo. There are still two more days worth of garden visits to share!

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All material © 2009-2026 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.