Sarasota Fern Society

Held annually, the Sarasota Fern Society’s Show and Sale has three main features:

Plant Judging. This friendly competition is designed to be educational and inspirational. Each plant entered in the ‘Show’ section is examined by a panel of experts and graded against an imaginary perfect specimen. Ribbons are awarded on a scored points basis. Recent "Best of Show" winners Bill and Pattie are pictured at right.
Plant Sales. Members offer many sizes and varieties of ferns for sale. The Society keeps a small percentage of the proceeds.
Education. Experienced members answer questions posed by the general public and several tables are devoted to educational displays created by Society members.

	The Fern Society’s field trips are always enjoyable social events as well as educational experiences. Pictured, at right, are a few of our members on a recent visit to the ‘Highlands Hammock’ state park, near Sebring, Florida. A special tour aboard a covered tram had been arranged in advance by our programs chairperson, and our guide, a park ranger, introduced us to several areas of the park that are not typically accessible to the general public. Following the tram ride, we enjoyed a leisurely walking tour of the park’s “Fern Garden Trail”, a network of well marked paths deep into the canopied forest. At right, members of the Society lean over a railing on a boardwalk section of the trail to examine one of the many fern species we encountered. You are invited to join us on our next field trip. You will have fun and learn something about ferns at the same time. Click here to see our field trip Photo Galleries.