The fern garden was established in 1964 in honor of Mabelle Hayes, the wife of Arboretum founder, Stanley W. Hayes. There are 20 species which have been naturalized along the trail with a variety of spring flowers. Although most of the ferns are at their peak in mid-summer, they can be seen and enjoyed from spring until late fall. A few of the ferns are evergreen and in evidence all year long. The fern garden trail leads through a wooded hillside which is rich with wildflowers as well as ferns.
Ferns are non-flowering plants that reproduce by spores or underground runners.
They are generally well suited to shady sites with well drained soils containing organic matter. Ferns are quite varied in leaf texture and shape and include both evergreen and deciduous forms. They are readily adaptable to cultivation and are especially useful in a shade garden. Fern allies include the scouring rushes and spikemosses.