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Deep in shady forests and gardens, grow one of my favorite plants, the fern. The fern (as just mentioned) grow best with full shade, although my own plants will tolerate a few hours of early morning or evening sun (indirect sunlight). Ferns love rich acidic, moist soil, and they require constant watering (I confess I sometimes neglect to water them every day and sadly, they fade a bit). It is also a good idea to mist the plant as you water it, as the fuzzy stems absorb much of the water. Ferns do not flower, rather they produce spores on the back of the leaves. They also spread with their rhizomes roots (much like the iris).
Much lore surrounds the fern. For centuries, it was considered magical, for here was a plant with no apparent flowers or seeds and yet magically, little baby ferns would emerge around its parent fern. Other lore suggested the fern bloomed only at night...beautiful blue flowers which would fade so quickly, few men ever saw them. And it was thought the flowers would produce little yellow seeds which would only ripen in the moonlight, and (as fate would have it) the little seeds were invisible.
It is said burning the leaves outdoors will make it rain. Burning the powdered leaves indoors would banish evil spirits and provide a protective “barrier”. But you don’t have to burn the plant to protect your home. Growing ferns inside and out also provide protection, as well as luck. If gathered on Midsummer’s night in the moonlight, the spores could provide invisibility, particularly magical invisibility.
Like comfrey and marigold, the fern can be boiled down to make a balm or compress to sooth the pain of bruises and minor abrasions. In years past, it was used to make a decoction to ease stomach pains, colic, even some diseases of the spleen. Though it was cautioned to never mix with alcohol as the results could be fatal. In modern times, the fern is not often used for medicinal purposes.
*Note: The top photo shows my ostrich fern growing with dead nettle. The photo below shows my potted Australian tree fern...also remember the care of a potted fern is different than one growing in your garden...
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