Who loves Hosta's?

[madmax]

What are your favorites. Post pics if you have 'em.

I like Gold Standard, Patriot, Paul's Glory, and a quite a few others.

Check out this little cutie:
http://www.songsparrow.com/2005new/plantdetails.cfm?ID=1949&type=Hosta

[Mutley]

1. Here's the first one I've ever had.

It's a Bright Lights

[madmax]

2. It's a beauty!

You say your first, how many do you have? I have about 30 or so down one side of my driveway which I'll be dividing in the fall and planting in my back yard. I don't know the name they all have green edges and white centers. My neighbor gave me them when I first moved here. I'd say they're medium sized.

Been buying some perennials like peony and hydrangea which I'll keep and plant but, I'm thinking of adding a lot of different hosta's and filling in the bare areas with potted annuals. I'm falling in love with hosta's.

[Mutley]

3. Well, thats it.

Lol. I just recently decided to pick up the gardening hobby. I have to stick to potted plants for now because I don't have a yard (just a concrete patio). I also have a Cleome. I hope to be able to transfer these guys and any other plants I pick up to a real garden when we buy a house in the next couple of years.

[madmax]

4. Me too!

I just started getting interested in gardening this year. So much to learn! I've been picking up container gardening magazines for ideas and combinations. I'm a horticultural handicap. :evilgrin:

While you're saving up to get your home make a wish list. Helps to pass the time.

[Mutley]

5. Magazines!

Perfect! I've been perusing around online and I haven't been able to find anything too helpful. I'm so used to finding information online that I tend to forget about print material :silly: Thanks for the idea.

There is so much to learn. I'm going to have to do a lot of research to catch up! And thanks for the idea of a wish list... I can't wait to get a house... so sick of renting!!!

[Blue Gardener]

6. Me!

I have about 25 varieties planted in my back yard. Insects are starting to make holes in them though. Guess I'm going to have to do something about it.
I got one last year called "Lunar Eclipse" that is turning into a real beauty.
I also really like "Francee", "Golden Tiara" and "Patriot" as well. I have a friend with about 150 different varieties planted. I don't think I'll ever get that serious about collecting.

[madmax]

7. I think with 25 varieties

you already ARE a collector ;)

You and your friend must have huge gardens! I have a postage size front yard and small back yard. Maybe it's 50 x 50.

Where do you get your plants from? Local or mailorder.

[Blue Gardener]

8. So far all local

A favorite garden center sold their land to a developer last year, so I got some really nice hostas for 50% off when they had their big closing sale. We also have someone locally that has a huge hosta sale at her house in the spring, so I got several there this year. If you're patient I think you can usually find the ones you're looking for locally.
My back yard isn't all that big, but as long as you stay away from the gigantic hostas you can fit quite a few in a small yard.

[madmax]

9. I like the little ones.

Definately don't want one called Sum and Substance. Three feet high and feet wide! Do you intermingle other plants with your hostas?

I have a fence that we're going to plant arbrovitae along and then I want to fill in the beds with hosta, sedum, peony and such.

[Blue Gardener]

13. I like Coral Bells (Heuchera)

It goes well with hostas since they both like shade. I also like to plant a few annual impatiens in amongst the hostas to add a little more color in the summer.

[Mutley]

14. Don't the coffee grounds get moldy?

That's a good idea.

[noamnety]

16. Thumbs up on coral bells

They're native to the US, unlike hostas, so I'd encourage you to go that route instead, when you're expanding your gardens.

[barb162]

11. I will put used coffee grounds under the hosta to stop the damned

slugs from putting holes in the leaves. I also understand the slugs dislike sharp rocks and sometimes I will put those under the hosta leaves

[Blue Gardener]

12. Not sure it's all slugs eating the leaves

I used a natural slug bait last year, plus cocoa shell mulch, and I still had holes in the leaves. The cocoa shell has sharp edges that are supposed to repel slugs.
I suspect earwigs are doing the most damage. I tried an earwig trap that uses tuna cat food as a bait, but all that seems to be attracting are flies. I've also heard you can use rolled up wet newspaper....they like dampness, so will crawl into the layers of the newspaper, then you dispose of them. I don't want to resort to chemicals if I can avoid it.

[barb162]

15. I have heard a lot of people using the wet newspaper method and having

success with it. Thing is I can't stand the idea of picking up the newspaper in the morning with all these slugs all over it, as in EWWWWW.

[barb162]

10. I have about 6 different kinds, but my favorites are the blue

giants (H. sioboldiana Elegans), I think. In numbers, I have several hundred.

[bleedingheart]

17. me me me me...

they are elegant..

I have truly grown to love my shade gardens...

[lukasahero]

18. Blue Mouse Ears

I just bought one of these - it's only about 3 inches tall, 3 around and is the cutest thing I have seen in ages! I'll have to get a pic to post.

[madmax]

19. You must post a pic

Where did you get yours? I saw some beauties offered from a few mail order sites but, I'm nervous about ording plants thru the mail.

[lukasahero]

24. Don't have it online yet but I did *take* the pic at least :)

I took it yesterday but haven't loaded it to the web yet - will try to do so tonight. I took a pic with a quarter on a leaf so you can judge the size - it is too cute and it's just starting to bloom too - added bonus.

I got mine at a plant sale that had a booth from the Hosta Society. I will dig up the name of the seller - don't know if he has a web site or catalog but will get some details and let you know. I didn't check to see where you're located, but I believe this guy was in Western Mass or CT, if that's a possibility for you.

My best advice, though, would be get to a plant sale for your local botanical gardens or wildflower society and see if they have any - I found a few more with other vendors there as well. You could also check to see if there is a local chapter of the Hosta Society around you. They'd be able to direct you to good sources. (BTW, I paid $20 which I understand is anywhere from $2 to $10 below the going rate so it's worth it to try and find these venues.)

Good luck.

[cmd]

20. My favorite is Whirlwind

It is aptly named as it looks like a pinwheel. My Sum and Substance hostas are gigantic this year. I used a liquid fertilizer called Soil Soup this spring. They are smothering the ostrich ferns that are planted behind them. I guess I will be doing some replanting this fall.

[madmax]

21. Where did you get Soil Soup?

I did a google and came up with a company that sells some contraption for making compost tea, called Soup Soil. I'd like to find something pre-mixed. Yep, I'm the original lazy gardener :evilgrin:

[cmd]

22. Wilson's Nursery, Newark, OH

The stuff is amazing. I think it is the same thing that you googled, because you can buy a contraption for making it. Wilson's has a little Soup Kitchen. You just turn a tap and fill a gallon jug with the stuff. You have to use it in the next twenty-four hours. I bought it at a two for one sale. At seven dollars a gallon, it is not cheap.

[madmax]

23. And they call NJ the Garden State!

I can't find anything easy around here. You folks in the mid-west and Cali have it made :P

[LiberalEsto]

25. The deer in my neighborhood

The hooved bastards particularly enjoy the unopened flower buds on my hostas. But I guess I'm lucky. In some neighborhoods in our county, the deer devour the entire hosta plants.

[goddess40]

26. I love hostas

we moved a couple of years ago and I've had to start over I was just trying to count up the ones I have names for I'm up to 23 with names and another 9 the previous owner put in that I don't know their variety. I like the large ones but have even started putting in some of the smaller types. My back yard is heavily wooded so I'm building islands of shade plants.