View source for Fernery

{{Short description|Garden of ferns}}
[[File:Rippon LEa fernery.jpg|thumb|Fernery at [[Rippon Lea]], Australia]]
[[Image:GeelongBotanicGarden old.jpg|thumb|A fernery at the [[Geelong Botanic Gardens]] (1892–1902)]]
A '''fernery''' is a specialized [[garden]] for the cultivation and display of [[fern]]s.

In many countries, ferneries are indoors or at least sheltered or kept in a [[shadehouse]] to provide a moist environment, filtered light and protection from frost and other extremes; on the other hand, some ferns native to arid regions require protection from rain and humid conditions, and grow best in full sun. In mild climates, ferneries are often outside and have an array of different species that grow under similar conditions.

In 1855, parts of England were gripped by '[[pteridomania]]' (the fern craze). This term was coined by [[Charles Kingsley]], clergyman, naturalist (and later author of [[The Water-Babies, A Fairy Tale for a Land Baby|''The Water Babies'']]). It involved both British and exotic varieties being collected and displayed; many associated structures were constructed and paraphernalia was used to maintain the collections.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mary| last=Gibby |author-link=Mary Gibby |url=http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/benmore-fernery/benmore-fernery.htm |title=The Benmore Fernery |year=2013 |website=www.buildingconservation.com |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1859, the Fernery at [[Tatton Park Gardens]] beside [[Tatton Hall]] had been built to a design by George Stokes, [[Joseph Paxton]]'s assistant and son-in-law, to the west of the [[Conservatory (greenhouse)|conservatory]] to house [[Cyatheales|tree ferns]] from [[New Zealand]] and a collection of other ferns.<ref>{{cite book |last=Groves |first=Linden |year=2004 |title=Historic Parks & Gardens of Cheshire|pages=65 |location=Ashbourne |publisher=[[Landmark]] |isbn=1-84306-124-4 }}</ref> The Fernery was also seen in the TV miniseries ''[[Brideshead Revisited (TV serial)|Brideshead Revisited]]''.<ref>{{cite book |last=Titchmarsh |first=Alan |year=1999 |title=Alan Titchmarsh's Favourite Gardens |location=Norwich |publisher=[[Jarrold Publishing]] |isbn=0711710325 }}</ref>

In 1874, the fernery in [[Benmore Botanic Garden]] (part of the [[Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh]]) was built by [[James Duncan (art collector)|James Duncan]] (a plant collector and sugar refiner). This was a large and expensive project since the fernery was based in a heated conservatory. In 1992, it was listed [[Historic Scotland]] for its architectural and botanical value and has been described by the [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland]] as "extremely rare and unique in its design".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stories.rbge.org.uk/archives/6324 |title=The Fernery  |date=11 November 2013 |website=rbge.org.uk |access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>

In 1903, [[Hever Castle]] in [[Kent]] was acquired and restored by the American millionaire [[William Waldorf Astor]] who used it as a family residence. He added the Italian Garden (including a fernery) to display his collection of statuary and ornaments.<ref>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Jane |year=1999 |title=The English Garden Through the 20th Century |location=England |publisher=Garden Art Press |isbn=1870673298 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Portal|Gardens}}
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{{Horticulture and gardening}}

[[Category:Types of garden]]
[[Category:Ferns]]
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