If Ferns Could Talk…

Dear Reader:

I am so proud of this sword fern – ( Boston Fern) is part of this family.

It is huge and still growing-it is in a location where it gets filtered light and in a high humidity climate that keeps the soil moist… two pre- requisites for healthy growth.

I think my love for ferns parallels my passion for history. After all ferns existed 100 million years before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Ferns grew before flowering plants existed. Today there are thousands of species … ranging in height from just a few inches to tree size structures.

Sword ferns loved moist wooded shady areas… so it should have been no surprise when a hanging fern pot fell and cracked… the fern, not only continued to live but thrived in that environment.

Ferns symbolize on-going life , hope, and new beginnings.

Magical folk tales sprang up about the fern due to the ” invisible seeds” within it. In reality it is spores mixed with sun and photosynthesis turning them into gametes that move into the fern to reside.

It was thought ( in the Middle Ages) that a fern would flower and produce one magical seed on Mid-Summer’s Day. If you were lucky enough to find it…you could understand the language of birds, find buried treasure, and have the strength of 40 men.

So until tomorrow… just think how young the human race is in comparison to ferns ( separated by millions of years) yet today we love and care for them as part of our surrounding beauty of life.

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Look at my hibiscus on my other bush-as big as a basketball!

A summer storm is brewing-signing off!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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1 Response to If Ferns Could Talk…

  1. Rachel Edwards says:

    ❤❤❤ Love ferns…they calm and soothe the soul. On our way to Suzy’s memorial service where Clyde will speak and all of her family will sing…besides the Minister at their church and the choir. It will be a holy service. Suzy did not plan it…said it was for them and they should do what they wanted…I was surprised because Sonja had her’s planned. When I saud that to Suzy she simply said “remember I am the middle child ” ❤ Thank you for your sweet card with the profound words about the brevity of passing…very comforting. Love you.

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