Fun with ferns

the group at Kelly Falls
– D. Bedry

preparing for the pre-trip ferns test
– L. Bridger

Rod’s guide sheet (and poetry!)
– R. Tysdal

Rod, and his charming assistant Vicki
– L. Bridger

explaining the wonderful world of ferns!
– L. Bridger

climbing the hill to the next fern patch
– L. Bridger

lunch at David Lam Falls picnic site
– D. Bedry

drilling us yet again on Deer Ferns and Sword Ferns
– L. Bridger

ferns like it wet, and Rod is showing us a nice wet spot!
– L. Bridger

our trip route up Blackwater Creek
– L. Bridger

enjoying some waterfalls after lunch
– D. Bedry

do you know these ferns?
We do, now!
– L. Bridger

Fun with ferns
by Tom Koleszar, 5 June 2021

On Saturday eight intrepid members of the Naturalist Club braved the weather to explore the world of ferns with trip leader Rod Tysdal.

Rod is a retired forester, and he dusted off a lot of his old knowledge – and even bought a new book – to prepare for this trip.  Before we started out, we had a little test on fern identification – which a few of us even passed!

Rod provided us with a little guide sheet (complete with original poetry), then led us on a wonderful guided walk up Blackwater Creek to David Lam Falls looking at ferns (and other forest life) all along the way.  We learned how to identify several different kinds of ferns ( Licorice, Deer, Sword, Spiney Wood, Bracken, and Lady ferns), as well has where they like to live and how they propagate.

We topped it off with lunch at David Lam Falls, enjoying the waterfall scenery before heading back to the vehicles.  Rod did a wonderful job, and everyone really enjoyed the trip.  We hope we can entice him back for more trips in the future!  Thanks Rod!  And a special thanks to his wife Vicki who assisted Rod on the trip, and had to put up with him during all his preparations!