Yes, I've used impatiens and they love it in there. The megapatomicum is near the front,... it sprawls and blooms like crazy and now that it's established it doesn't die back to the ground anymore. I use to have to whack it back and wait for new growth but now it's big enough it just keeps going. I try to plant the more light sensitive ferns to the west of some shrubs (steps and more bushes on the other side) and the ones that can take some light in the sunnier spots. I've never figured out why since the previous owner/builders only used the yard to hit golfballs in but that bed is a weird sandy clay mix that holds moisture well. Even the astilbe thrives in it. About the only things I've had trouble growing there is elephant ears (too wet in winter/spring) and brugmansia which will eventually bloom but so late you don't get much of a show. Only the left side (of the steps) of that bed is like that and no were else in my yard has those conditions.

Hi, I used to mix my own but never got 2 mixes the same, so I prefer to use a commercial mix and once you find one you like stick to it and have everyting inb a uniform brand adding exra if necessry. Nephs/bostons like an open homousy mix so to my commercial mix I may add some orchid bark and compost(home made) for nephs. I adjust my commercial mix depending depending on what fern I am potting I.e whether terestraial or ephitite fern. regards Deeinoz

Thanks! I babied these plants until the drought won the fight and just don't want to do anything to hurt the ones I was able to save, which was most of what I planted during the past two or three years including this year. I just love my ferns! Again, thanks! Beverly

Are you sure it's Hammond? Perhaps Gayle Road Nursery in Ponchatoula? The nursery and greenhouses are behind her house. She has greenhouses full of ferns, all very reasonably priced. Betty