2021 American Horticultural Society Book Award Winner: “A lovely and multifaceted exploration . . . as useful as it is educational.” —Publishers Weekly
The Complete Book of Ferns is filled with botanical information, indoor and outdoor growing and care information, details on propagation, display ideas, and even craft projects. This gorgeous book is authored by Mobee Weinstein, Foreman of Gardeners at the New York Botanical Garden and a veteran guest on Martha Stewart Living and other shows.
From otherworldly Staghorns—mounted like antler trophies in homes throughout the world—to classic Boston Ferns and newer varieties like Crispy Wave, ferns are definitely back in fashion. And to no one’s surprise. After all, ferns are among the very oldest plants on the planet, with a long and storied history. There are tens of thousands of known varieties. In the Victorian Era, ferns were an absolute craze for over fifty years. They re-emerged as integral home décor in the ’50s and ’60s, and decorated the “fern bars” of the ’80s. And they’re back again.
This comprehensive reference starts its examination of ferns 400 million years ago, when the first species of this group of spore-reproducing plants appeared on Earth, exploring their evolution and eventual incorporation into human culture, including the powers associated with them and their practical and ornamental uses. Then, after an exploration of fern botany—its parts, how it grows, its variability in size and form, habitats, propagation, etc.—you’ll learn how to green your indoor and outdoor environments with ferns. Every aspect of care is covered: potting/planting, watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and more.
Finally, you can explore creative planting projects, like terrariums, vertical gardens (living walls), mixed tabletop gardens, and moss baskets, and create pressed fern art, fabric wall hangings with chlorophyll-stained designs, cyanotypes, and handmade fern-decorated paper. You’ll soon understand why this ancient plant class continues to be all the rage.
