Native maidenhair..

Can see why it was a major garden crush. It is gorgeous and the black stems are so cool. I remember back in the 60's a very wealthy lady trying to establish it in her garden on an island in Muskoka Lake. Not the right climate, I fear. Thank goodness there are places like this one where people can go and see wildness.

Its really a nice little walk Lori. The air is much cooler ( good because the walking warms ya up!) and the air is chilly humid...you feel it hit you once you get to the shade.
I could never afford the water it would take to recreate what makes these moisture lovers cover a hillside.

It is a revelation when a person walks into an old growth forest for the first time... awe inspiring and chilly! This summer our forests dried out and that chilly mossy, ferny, humidity disappeared. If you disturbed the detritus on the forest floor...the loamy soil was dry and dusty. The mushrooms and toadstools that grow on the dead wood were very few. Can't remember that ever happening before. The snow and rain we've had recently has only started to replace the moisture that was lost. I'm hoping for lots more snow this winter but last night the arctic high arrived and it's minus 18 C with the windchill.