Actually, it's not hard to grow ferns from spores, it just takes careful preparation and patience. If you would like, I can send you spores for lady fern and painted fern for postage. I can email you instructions if you'd like. Send me an email if interested. kms

Rust is quite unusual on ferns. More than likely what you are looking at is reproductive spore. google fern spore pictures and look at the varieties.

My reply on your other post. http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pests/msg090234278070.html?1 Beyond that, if you're concerned instead about the small brown spots on the backs of the leaves, understand that those are groups of spores (reproductive units) which help grow new ferns. Here is a link that might be useful: your original post

I have fragrant mini roses; yellow or rose.