Ferns of Grey and Bruce

This book has been produced in cooperative effort by members of the Bruce-Grey Plant Committee, all of whom have brought their different skills and knowledge to the project. Since Grey and Bruce Counties are a wonderful area for ferns, the purpose of this book is to provide, for amateurs and professionals alike, a reference which focuses on the identification of our local ferns. The intent is to increase overall awareness of the botanical uniqueness of this area and the extreme importance of preserving suitable habitat for these fascinating plants while we still have the opportunity to do so. This book will be found useful in many parts of the province, as approximately 67% of the fern species present in Ontario are described here.

Many people are interested in growing ferns. This is best done by collecting spores, germinating them, and following their development. A section is included in this book on how best to grow ferns from spores. Bear in mind that most ferns have very specific habitat requirements, and to grow them successfully one must recreate the right conditions. On no account should ferns ever be dug up and removed from wild areas.