The fernery at the Morris Arboretum and Gardens

It is time, on to the fernery!
Built in 1899! That's a full 124 years before I visited. Good lord (a little of that history here)
Down the steps...
And behold the ferns...

What is that steely blue business?
This was my introduction to Microsorum steerei. I didn't spot a name on it here, but was able to ID it when I saw it at Chanticleer the next day.
There were so many extraordinary ferns here, ones that I can't even begin to guess at the names of, like this one with the very upright fronds...
And this...
The big guy there is of course Asplenium nidus, bird's-nest fern. 

Aglaomorpha meyeniana, bear's paw fern (the next three images)...


Microsorum punctatum

Lygodium flexuosum, a rhizomatous perennial climbing fern. 

Isn't the building itself incredible?
Blechnum brasiliense, Brazilian tree fern.


I didn't get the name of these tree ferns, maybe Sphaeropteris cooperi?

At first glace this groundcover fern fooled me, was it a pyrrosia?
Nope, the sori aren't right...
And the fronds weren't leathery like pyrrosia are, still it was an impressive planting.

Another Aglaomorpha of some sort...
So fantastic!
And look, plants growing on plants—one of my very favorite things—a lycopodium perhaps?
I previously shared a video I took inside the fernery over on Instagram, watch that here.
Phymatosorus scolopendria ends this post, on Friday (because there were just too many cool ferns for one post) we'll see a little more inside the fernery and then get a bit of a bonus tour outside the building and in the garden nursery.