1 Asparagus densifluorus - Meyers
1 Microlepia strigosa
1 Polystichum tsus-simense

and some non-ferns to go with them:

1 Palemonium caeruleum ‘Brise d’ Anjou’
1 Aegopodium podagraria Varegatum
1 Astilbe – Red
Baby Tears - gold colored (thought it would look nice under and around the ferns.

Any comments on this combination of plants or whatever would be appreciated.

Also, how should I build up the soil. The topsoil looks okay, some organic matter. Haven't checked the pH, but elsewhere in the yard it's a little on the high side (7.6). What I have to work with is:

1)compost (Kellog's N'Rich Compost - looks like mostly small redwood chips, I guess)
2)sand
3)mushroom compost (high pH of 8.1)
4)peat moss
5)composted steer manure

What combination of soil and ammendments would be best here?

Thanks

The Asparagus isn't a fern. They have "fern" in the common name, but this is just one of the many times where common names are downright misleading.

The only thing that jumps out at me as being a bad idea here is Aegopodium podagraria. Maybe it's better behaved in California, but in Indiana this is a noxious weed in gardens, choking out just about anything else and incredibly difficult to eradicate once it's gotten established.

Patrick Alexander

As far as the Aegopodium podagraria, yeah, I came across the fact that it's invasive when I read up on it after my post. However, I did read that he variegated variety is not as invasive as the non-variegated. I'll have to read up some more and consider what to do with this one.
Thanks