For years, Raleigh botanist, and retired NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Education Director, Jesse Perry, has been sharing several of the amazing botanical curiosities, that he’s run across in his 70+ years of traipsing through the natural areas across the state. Just a few of Jesse’s excellent introductions that we’ve had the pleasure of introducing, are the Peltandra ‘Purpliscious’, and Saururus ‘Hertford Streaker’.
Jesse has long been a fern connoisseur, especially interested in natural hybrids, and genetics from disjunct populations. Because of his advancing age, and recent health challenges, we had been in conversation for the last few years, and he sought out advice where he should donate his rarest ferns. As it turned out, JLBG was recommended by those he consulted, as the best place for both taking care of the living collections, as well as keeping his detailed collection data preserved. Finally, after three years of back and forth, our schedules finally came together to make the plant transfer last week. Because of Jesse’s recent health issues, his already densely packed Raleigh garden had become even more so, as we wove our way through the vegetation, to reach each patch of ferns, all which had all been living in containers for decades.
One particularly important fern grouping just happened to be quite near a rather massive underground nest of thousands of yellow jackets, which took great offense when we tugged on the pots, most of which were well rooted into the ground. Fortunately, I managed to get away with only one sting, when the episode could have turned disasterous.
The ferns are now safely back at JLBG, and all have been accessioned, and planted in the garden. It will take them a few years to rebound and make showy specimens, but we could not be more thrilled to have been entrusted to maintain Jesse’s collection.
Jesse Perry fern collection