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The Kitchen Table

This seems strange.

9 years ago

The spring after my cousin Terry, a Master Gardener, died, a new (to me) fern showed up in my garden. Being a believer in signs, I let it stay. Weeks later, Terry's husband took me to one of their favorite places in NYS--and there was the fern. Here we are several years later, and the fern has multiplied in my garden--into a circle! Do plants normally grow in perfect circles? I've been gardening for decades and have never seen this.

{{!gwi}}

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Comments (14)

bee0hio
9 years ago
Wow! Interesting, but I don't know the answer to your Q.
rob333 (zone 7b)
9 years ago
That reminds me so much of Where the Red Fern Grows

"He goes to visit his dogs' graves and finds a giant red fern between them. According to Indian legend, only an angel can plant one. He and his family look at it in awe, and he feels ready to move."
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Granlan_TX
9 years ago
Have no answer for you, but this is fascinating and gives me the chills in a good way.
linda_6
9 years ago
I agree with granlan. This is fascinating and I would tend to believe it to be a sign that your cousin is letting you know everything is ok.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
9 years ago
very interesting! in the center of the circle is that an iris? She didn't by any chance give you that plant did she? Because that would be even freakier.
I have never seen circles except in mushrooms and they do often grow in circles. I am sure others do too with similar below ground systems.
I do have a lot of ferns that just grow on their own here at this house, I think they may have been around at the original plantation that was here, our whole subdivision used to be a huge pecan orchard and plantation with tons of trees and plants.
Pieonear
9 years ago
Do you happen to know the name of the Fern? In the attached article it mentions that Lady Fern will sometimes grow in a circle.

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/lady_fern.htm
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
It's not a Lady Fern, so I took some closeup pics a few minutes ago and looked up fern ID. I think it might be a Sensitive Fern. Descriptions say nothing about it growing in a circle. I'll have to see how frost-sensitive it is in the fall.
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
Meant to answer Raven's question.....no, I don't think Terry ever gave me an iris. But that one looks small. Perhaps it just appeared! ;-)
momrox4
9 years ago
That is fascinating and gave me the shivers. Were you and Terry close?
alisande
Original Author
9 years ago
Yes, very close. Our mothers were sisters, and we were 15 months apart. Saw a lot of each other growing up. We lived in different states as adults, but met halfway for lunch twice a year and talked often.

She was an amazing gardener, and one of the nicest people ever. A great favorite in her community, which was obvious at her funeral.

Here's a small part of her garden.
Jasdip
9 years ago
Wow. That is so cool. It reminds me of when Dotmom would find a peanut in her hallway. Her son Brian loved peanuts.
bengardening
9 years ago
That is really mysterious. ROB I remember going to that movie and crying. I think it was one of the best movies I have ever seen. Its too bad I can't see it again.
lydia1959
9 years ago
I'd definitely take that as a sign from her...Circles commonly represent unity, wholeness, and infinity. . Ferns (from Wiki) symbolize sincerity towards others. It can also be a symbol of magic, fascination, confidence, shelter, discretion, reverie and a secret bond of love.

Her gardens were beautiful... seems fitting that she would send you plants.
murraysmom Zone 6a OH
9 years ago
Wow.

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