My Bloomin' Ferns

My ferns are blooming.  I've never noticed such a prolific bloom as this year. And whoever heard of a fern blooming. Little white flowers is what they have.  So little it's hard to see them unless I give you a close-up.

So what are ferns doing blooming. Aren't they supposed to have spores or things like that. To put your mind at rest, these aren't true ferns.  I've always called them asparagus ferns, so I thought they were ferns.  Their foliage bears a resemblance to that of the vegetable asparagus, also from the Asparagus genus.  But, of course, they don't sport those delicacies of vegetables we all steam or boil and put butter on in the spring.  Well, the asparagus I'm talking about aren't vegetables or ferns. I'd always wondered how they could survive the droughts untouched. Now I know. They're from the family Asparagus, but not fern-related.

There are three of them, as far as I can tell. Asparagus sprengeri, meyrsii, and plumosa.  I grow all three and have been pleased each time I see them bloom.  Asparagus sprengeri blooms in the spring and by now has red berries. I'm giving you this link to go see, as my sprengeri have not done well this year, so I didn't torture you with a photo.  But the other two are looking good this year and fall blooming---- so here goes.

 

 

Asparagus plumosa

I'm sure all of you have seen this before. It's a small houseplant up north and a climber here in the south where it's almost like a weed, albeit a pretty one. Each branch that becomes a climber also has thorns on it. Makes it just that more difficult to prune.

 

 

 

 

 

 Asparagus meyrsii

I'm sure you've all seen this one too. It's also called foxtail and other common names that I don't have at the tip of my tongue.

But I like them. They're hardy plants, have a good look next to the other plants and wear a green fuzzy apparel of needle-shaped, prickly leaves that are quite handsome.  So if you haven't learned something, I have. This was kinda fun.

Now you know what I'm doing with bloomin' ferns.