It’s the last Friday of the first month of the year, so let’s celebrate with a giveaway! I’m ready for whimsical February to arrive and bring along some warmer temperatures. While we wait for garden season, I’ve been reading gardening books and sharing them here with you. Recently, I’ve been learning about Ferns from The Complete Book of Ferns by Mobee Weinstein. I’ve been wanting to add ferns to my outdoor gardens, so being asked if I’d like to review it and host a giveaway was a happy bit of luck.
About the Complete Book of Ferns: Indoors • Outdoors • Growing • Crafting • History & Lore by Mobee Weinstein:
Houseplants Ferns are Hot:
from The Complete Book of Ferns |
Houseplants are more popular than ever, and no category is hotter than ferns. The Complete Book of Ferns is a comprehensive reference that explores the 400-million-year evolution of the species, fern botany, how to grow ferns both indoor and outdoor, and also features 70+ profiles. Every aspect of fern care is covered: potting/planting, watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and more. Readers will also explore creative planting projects such as moss baskets, tabletop gardens and more, as well as fern art and designs.
Add beautiful greenery inside and out with Ferns:
I adore the beautiful green of ferns! I always have them in containers on my front porch, but I’ve been wanting to add some to my front yard under our large trees. I figured, I’d just go over to our local nursery and tell them where I wanted to plant ferns and have them point me in the direction of the proper type, but now that I’m learning more and more about ferns, I think I’ll do the picking, so I can have a varied fern garden.
My Thoughts on The Complete Book of Ferns: Indoors • Outdoors • Growing • Crafting • History & Lore:
from The Complete Book of Ferns
This is a resource book, a learning tool and a crafting book all rolled into one. I’m still going to the table of contents and picking a topic to read about as time allows. Since there are over 70 species covered, there is a lot to digest, so I suggest reading this as a resource book as well by finding the topic of interest and learning all you can about it. I was drawn to the lore of Ferns, some of which I’d never heard before. For instance, did you know that in the Victorian Era, ferns created an absolute craze for all things ferns that last for more than fifty years? More fun facts I’ve gleaned so far are below.
Fun Facts about Ferns:
Most ferns survive under larger trees thanks to a special gene for light-sensing protein called Neochrome, which allows the plant to respond to the presence of red light. Other plants can only detect blue light for photosynthesis.
An unexpected plant use comes from a fernlike plant called Lycopodium, a.k.a. Clubmosses. Just like ferns, clubmosses produce spores instead of seeds. The spores are tiny and have high fat content, so a cloud of them thrown in the air is highly flammable creating a dramatic, but relatively safe burst of flame. These were used to create flashes of light and are still used on stage and film today. Ferns have been associated with Fairies and mysticism. Some say a stand of ferns completely covering the ground can be used to summon the fairy Puck, a.k.a. Robin Goodfellow, like the character in Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Takeaway:
While I don’t think I’ll be visited by fairy Puck once I get my fern garden growing, I do find ferns rather enchanting and I’m happy to see them having a moment again. I can’t wait to add them in my outdoor garden this year and hopefully, add some to my indoor garden as well. Some of the crafts look like a lot of fun as well. I’ve always wanted to make my own fern decorated paper and thanks to this book, I have step by step directions. When I do this craft, I’ll share it here on the blog so you can give it a try as well.
I invite you to learn more about The Complete Book of Ferns and the author Mobee Weinstein here.
Win It:
Thanks to today’s sponsor, Quarto Knows, one lucky reader will receive a hard copy of The Complete Book of Ferns. Please read the terms below and the enter to win. Please feel free to share this giveaway with all your friends and family. Thank you!
Terms:
No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter form below. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment, sponsor is. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel.
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Please share in comments: Do you have ferns in your outdoor or indoor gardens?
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