I have a fern which I feel must be the kind you inquire about. My friend, who gave it to me several years ago when it was about to die, called it an alligator birdnest fern. Today I was checking to try to identify it more exactly, and your post came up. Is this what you refer to? and it seems to me that it does multiply by clumping, because I am about to have a local nurseryman separate and repot it for me. I do not want to chance losing it now. Actually, the long fronds are greater than 2 feet long. And while we are on the subject, I found a different style birdnest fern at the nursery I spoke of, sort of a clubfoot version, different from my other wavy edged and straight edged bird nest ferns. I am quite fond of these plants, and give them a place of respect in the limited shade of my garden. Hope this helps.

Thanks Txgal! I had to laugh at your comment how they loved to see you coming! Our subs love to see me on the last day because they know they are getting a couple of six packs! The framers hated to see me because I got on them about their trash all the time!! Amy - I LOVED Steel Magnolias!!! It was my favorite movie but I do not remember that line. I need to go and rent it again! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE wide plank wood floors. I can not sell DH on it. I really think if I get this job next week I am interviewing for he will go for it (money issue more then anything)! Keeping fingers crossed. I saw a wide plank floor today that I fell in love with...DH loved it also!!! I just can not find a tile floor I like at all. Maybe because my heart really wants wood. GC keeps telling me I would crazy to get wood with the dogs, cat, kid. DH agreed to look at the alder doors again so I am happy about that :-) Worthy - The stone is sandstone, it was all hand chipped and done with a Texas Tan mortar. The window sills are all slanted a bit for water run off. I am not sure if there are grooves in it though. I will have to find out on that! Thanks for the info!

If you give a sharp tug to old ratty looking foliage it should come right off at the main body down at the crown. If you tug and it is fairly resistant to coming off it means it's not ready to detach from the main plant yet. Leave it alone and try again later. Leaving lots of short broken off leaves down near the crown invites pests to nestle in between the old and new foliage and water to accumulate. Best to clean the old brown leaves out by stripping them away from the crown just as you would snap a stalk of celery from the main body.........Maryl

Thank you so much - this was very informative! Unfortunately, neither says how high above the picture to install the light (and the electrical!). Thought it would be something easy to find, but apparently, I was wrong! :-)