Ferns: Indoors - Outdoors - Growing - Crafting

by Mobee Weinstein

Part of the Cool Springs Press "mini" series of garden-related books, Ferns mini  offers the same inspirational and useful content as The Complete Book of Ferns in a smaller, giftable format. Filled with botanical information, indoor and outdoor growing and care information, details on propagation, display ideas, and even craft projects, this book is a small but complete tribute to the mighty fern.

From the classic Boston Fern to newer varieties like trendy Crispy Wave,  ferns are back in fashion and in demand for both indoor and outdoor planting . Among the very oldest plants on the planet , ferns have a long and storied history and there are thousands of known varieties globally. 

Authored by Mobee Weinstein, the Foreman of Gardens at the New York Botanical Garden in Brooklyn and a veteran guest on the Martha Stewart Living TV show and other media outlets, the book covers everything from the  powers associated with ferns  to their  practical and ornamental uses . Every aspect of fern care  is potting/planting, watering, fertilizing, pest and disease control, and more.

Also included are fun and  creative planting projects , like terrariums, vertical gardens (living walls), mixed tabletop gardens, and moss baskets, as well as pressed  fern art , fabric wall hangings with chlorophyll-stained designs, cyanotypes, and hand-made fern-decorated paper.

In this beautiful little book, learn why this great, ancient plant class continues to capture our attention.

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

192 pages, Hardcover

Published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book but it's packed with information about ferns, profiles of all different ferns, and stunning photos. My digital ARC was very low quality so I was unable to view the photos very well, but from what I could see I'm assuming that those in the physical book will be stunning. There is a truly vast amount of information here, including the history and science of ferns and how to care for all different varieties inside and out.

I read a self-destructing digital ARC via Net Galley for review.

[Ren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved ferns. While I have other houseplants, I've never had luck with ferns. I learned some of what I was doing wrong with mine. haha I enjoyed reading about each type of fern, both indoor and outdoor varieties. Some I was familiar with and others I'd never heard of. The crafting with ferns section was interesting. Maybe someday I'll try again and set up a terrarium. This book is packed with information for the fern lover and would make a great gift for a gardener or houseplant lover.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Cool Springs Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Ferns is an unusual book full of neat tutorials and culture information for ferns by Mobee Weinstein. Due out 8th Sept 2020 from Quarto on their Cool Springs Press imprint, it's 192 pages and will be available in hardcover format.

The layout is accessible and attractive. The introductory chapter includes interesting information about the evolution and historical uses of ferns. Following chapters cover botany and culture of ferns indoors and outdoors (including general needs and growth, as well as a gallery of specific ferns and their culture requirements), and a final chapter with 8 crafting tutorials including terraria, dish gardens, a really pretty tabletop centerpiece, and others.

The books is written clearly and well. The tutorials are well photographed and attractive with step by step instructions and process photos. The inclusion of a kokedama tutorial was especially appreciated and one I fully intend to make.

Five stars. Beautiful book. It would make a superlative selection for readers, makers groups, school and public libraries, and the like.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

[Sara Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ferns by Mobee Weinstein was an in depth and informative read all about ferns.

The book starts with an in depth history of ferns, how they came to be, and why they are so special. It then covers the various uses ferns have. I learned so much from this little section. Then the book gets super into what makes a fern. While I found this section fascinating, I could see a few people finding this rather tedious and dry.

Next up and what I think most people would be most interested in when buying this book, is all about indoor and outdoor ferns. It goes into everything you could possibly need to know for having indoor ferns including good indoor varieties. Followed by ferns outdoors with all the same vital information.

The fun section of the book is all the crafts you can create to accommodate your ferns. The crafts list all supplies, detailed instructions, and helpful coloured photos. I found the variety of crafts were pretty basic. I would have also liked to have seen more crafts.

While I found the section on indoor and outdoor ferns to be very comprehensive and informative, I found the crafts to be pretty basic yet thorough. The introduction was highly informative, but I think many would find it dry.

I received an electronic advanced reader copy from Quarto Publishing Group- Cool Springs Press through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of ferns, mostly because I grew up running around in fern covered forests in the Northeast United States. Ferns, ferns, ferns, as far as the eye could see. Oceans of ferns. I live elsewhere now, and I have to admit, I miss the ferns. I've tried to grow some, but my efforts haven't been terribly successful. But my luck may be about to change, now that I've found this book.

Ferns by Mobee Weinstein is full of ferns and information about them - how they evolved, how they reproduce, and how to take care of them. Weinstein includes detailed information about many specific varieties of fern, from the common to the exotic, from Boston ferns to Australian Fern Trees. Accompanying a picture of each fern is detailed information about what living conditions it likes best - temperature, humidity, soil. Most helpfully to me, she includes temperature tolerance (hardiness) ranges for outdoor ferns, which will make adding some ferns to my garden much easier next year.

The photography is beautiful, and the book is very well laid out. Would be a lovely gift for any plant aficionado

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I have a friend that loves ferns, so I thought this book would help inspire a few ideas for when it's time to buy or create his next birthday/Christmas gift. And I was right!

The pictures are nice and the information is easy to read and follow. I've never been great with growing indoor plants (I once killed a supposedly unkillable cactus!), and after reading this book, I'm pretty sure I might could finally keep a plant alive.

There are some nice craft projects at the end, some of which I will be following when it comes time for the holiday season.

Overall, it's a nice book and would be great for any plant lover in your life.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ferns are my favourite plants but unfortunately, I struggle with growing them successfully!
I was hoping that this book could shed some light on what I’m doing wrong.
This was an information-dense little book, which I found fascinating and extremely helpful.
I loved the how-to section. Easy to follow craft ideas with lots of photos and step-by-step instructions.
I’m very interested in trying my hand at that gorgeous table top display.
A fantastic book, which would make a great gift for fern lovers.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Debra Daniels-Zeller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all it claims to be--ferns, indoors, outdoors, growing and more crafting than I'd expected. It's not exactly the book on ferns I was looking for as I want only outside information and don't much care about the crafting, but for someone who does, this book would be perfect. Ferns happen to just pop up around my house and I'd like to care for them a little more and perhaps add a few here and there, so for people who are looking for only gardening, this book is about one-third outside ferns. A short read for those who only want gardening information.

[Alissa M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ferns mini is a beautiful book! I'd love to purchase this as a gift to give some of my plant-loving friends. This book is PACKED with interesting historical information, how ferns were used over the years, gorgeous pictures, and how to use them in your every day home decor. I also enjoyed learning about the different varieties of fern - I never realized there were so many! Overall, very informative and beautifully put together.

[Juli Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting something quite so well-rounded out of this book! Weinstein covers basic fern biology, identification (both houseplants and landscape ferns), horticulture, craft projects, and a few other tidbits.