Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Recycling Nature's Way

Each Year, as Fall comes to an end, I remove the Boston ferns from the front porch.

I buy them from our local farmers co-operative, and with a faithful watering, and the occasional feeding, they grow into huge plants which we enjoy them all season long
They are lush and green, but after the first few hard frosts hit, the leaves turn brown, and I'll transport them to the trees and offer them to the birds as a winter refuge.

I have tried hanging them in a room and watering all winter through, it makes a huge mess, so I've given up, and resigned myself to the fact that each spring as soon as the farmers greenhouse flings open it's doors, I'm there waiting in line .......



12 comments:

DeniseinVA said...

That is such a wonderful looking porch, I would love to sit on it with the ferns hanging around me.

Country Gal said...

Your porch is lovely as are the ferns ! I love the greenhouses in spring time soo full and pretty I never know what I want ! Have a great day !

Unknown said...

They are beautiful. I love your header photo.

Nellie said...

I love your porch, Jo. We were lucky enough to keep a fern from our daughter's wedding for a few years, but it didn't hold up long.

Your porch is very welcoming. It looks like the place to be for a bit of time to cool off from a hot day.

John Going Gently said...

oh jo
what a stunning porch
i have died and gone to heaven
I sooooooo want one like yours

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

That's a porch that wants a few friends and a bottle of wine in the evening.

rusty duck said...

Yep. Agree with all the comments. It's beautiful. If I had your porch I wouldn't be doing any work at all...

Deb said...

My goodness, those are gorgeous. What a beautiful porch you have.

Sharon Rose said...

I haven't been on the blog in a year. I just stopped by to see your beautiful pics and post, listen to this song I so love to hear when I come to visit you for a spot of tea.
I wanted to let you know, I'm back.

This is a good thing. Stop by for a moment. I'll get the chairs on the porch dusted off. Let's visit.
See you soon Jo.
Love,
Sharon

Stella Jones said...

I'm glad you told me about those. I've seen so many of them here and don't they look pretty! but I didn't know what they were called or what happened to them at summer's end. I have the same problem with geraniums. I just have too many by the end of the summer and I hate for them to die in the frosts. I used to bring them indoors but now that Dylan's stuff is all over my back room, I just don't have the room.
Your ferns are lovely. I'm sure you miss them in the winter and long to get some new ones. It's all about renewal though, isn't it. If you didn't buy new ones, then the farmers wouldn't sell them and they would suffer. The wheel turns and we with it.

Ginny said...

The ferns look great. I tried Wintering mine from last Summer, you are right big mess and then it didn't get very lush this Summer. Never thought about the bird refuge. Thanks for the idea, I will try that this year.

Dora, the Quilter said...

Your ferns are gorgeous. Out here where I live it's too dry even to keep them alive indoors.
Ferns are one of the things I miss about the South.