My new Hosta web pages

Some of you know about this if you've been hanging out in Hostas, but for those that haven't, I've just finished a total update on my Hosta web pages. They are at http://www.magma.ca/~fredrkng/Ann/Ann_hostas06.html

Please let me know of any errors or broken links you find.

Ann

I checked it out on the Hosta forum, Ann, and as I said there, VERY impressive. But you are a bad influence, I'm afraid. Have an order in already to Hosta Choice Gardens where they have 25% off now until August 13. Woo Hoo!

Don

Sounds as though you've caught the bug! Another Hostaholic in the making.

Thanks Ann. Have saved it in my favourites.

Me too. Great reference. Good job, Ann!

Don

Ann, I really love your Jewel of the Nile and I agree that you are a bad influence, what with parading all these beauts in front of us like that!!!! By the way, is there anyway you can protect your plant photos from being "used" by anyone else when you make a site?

And Don, you too are a bad influence for mentioning "hosta sale", lol.

Erynne

Maybe I should look into the protection issue, but they are all, with one exception, photos from this year and I haven't worried much about it. I know that there are some sites that have something in place to prevent copying their images, but I suspect it requires more sophisticated web skills than I have.

Ann

LOL...sorry..really Ü

I'm trying real hard not to buy any more this year .... but Margot's Hostas are really nice. And on sale ...

Ann

OK, I've got seven more coming....how can I pass up a SALE? LOL

Great job on your website, Ann.

Sandy

"Oh just give into it !!!! You know you want to. What's a couple more hosta going to hurt? It's not like you can take your money with you when you go, so you may as well enjoy it by buying more plants. Who needs make up and new clothes or things for the house. Imagine how good it will feel when you add another hosta to your ever-growing list."

These are what the voices in my head say to me when the potential for more hostas comes about. Now more hostas are coming to my house........er, um should I say thanks Don! :Þ

Anne, you have an impressive collection for sure! I'm curious about the sizes you give..did you get the info from the net or is it based on your own experience? As an example, my Halcyon is twice as large as Gypsy Rose yet you give Halcyon as small and Gypsy as medium. My Remember Me is quite small..a far cry from medium size. Perhaps some of mine are in need of fertilizing!

The sizing is always a problem because no two sources seem to agree.

As I mentioned on the site, I've decided to size by the width of the mature plant and what I used if my plants were immature were the widths given on the AHS pages to which I link if possible. But I don't think they are particularly accurate either because in some cases my plants were considerably larger than the sizes given there.

However, my Halcyon is a mature plant which I've had for years and it's only about 2 ft wide, if that ; so would fit the small category - just. My Gypsy is new to my garden but is already about 14 inches, but I'll have to watch it to see what it becomes. (I hope it stays small. The more that do, the more I can fit in my garden. LOL )

In addition, there are still some inconsistencies between what my big page says and what the individual pages say. I'm working on getting them consistent.

I wish there were a consistent way to size hostas, but I decided that the size of the leaf wasn't anywhere as important consideration to me as how much space (width) the plant will potentially occupy. And I notice that some sites size by how HIGH the clump sits so that a tall, narrow plant might be classified as large, but take up little space.

Ann

I always thought size went by height, spread to a lesser degree but as you say, no two sites will say the same. My Halcyon is 15 years old and about 3 feet across..Blue Cadet likewise. In fact, my Krossa Regal is not much bigger across than either but 3-4 times as tall of course. I guess its all a trial and error. We can always move them if they get too large in their alloted space.

Or divide and share. ;-)

My new mini plugs -still potted up - have been invaded by leaf cutter bees. I've covered the bed with many thicknesses of that black 1/4 inch netting that you put over cherries etc. Do you think this will do the trick, or does anybody have any other ideas?

Most of these only have 2 or 3 leaves so it could be a disaster if allowed to continue. My thought is that if they don't grow enough for me to think theywill get through the winter, I'll have to grow them under lights for the winter.

Any comments.

inanda

Mini-plugs of hostas? Where do you get those.
I cna't answer the question, but there's not a lot of traffic on this thread anymore. Your question might get more visibility if you started an additional thread about it - maybe on the Hosta forum.

Ann

Ann, the hosta forum scares me. they know too much.

My hostas are really only to fill up my shade garden till I have enough martagons. Probably ten years or so.

Not mini plugs. Plugs of mini hostas. Found them at a May plant sale at the Mennonite University here in Winnipeg.

inanda - really only a lily & iris grower.

Inanda - there's a lot of people on the Hosta forum who DON'T know too much too. But I should probably give you my lilies and irises. Too much trouble trying to keep the European Lily beatle under control and my Irises bloom for such a short period of time and get borer, that I've been yanking them out too. What are martagons?

Ann

Morning Ann,

Martagons are (to me) the most exciting of all the lily family. They enjoy shade, are good and tall and come in many different colours. Unfortunately they are both very expensive and multiply very slowly. You can see some at http://www.lilynook.mb.ca

Can you give me the name of the best hosta book. I really need one that gives the numbers of veins so I can ID some that I have. When I started this garden about 5 years ago, didn't worry about names but now I do want to name as many as possible.

Inanda

Hi Inanada,

You're in good company trying to identify Hostas that you acquired awhile ago. I think most of us have been there.

I like my Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (Grenfell and Shadrack). Cheapest through Chapter's web site. But for vein characteristics, you might better search the AHS data base at
http://hostaregistrar.org/index.asp

That site allows you to search by name, leaf color, or leaf characteristics as well as a couple of other categories.

Do bear in mind, that the number of veins is not always consistent. Some of my plants are quite consistent and I can come up with a good average vein count. Others vary widely depending on how mature the leaf is, etc.

And don't be afraid to post pics on the Hosta forum asking for help. I think there are a bunch of us who enjoy the challenge. If you can get a picture of the whole plant, a close-up of one or more leaves, and an idea of the scale of the plant - maybe photograph a ruler by a leaf, people who frequent that site would be happy to offer their ideas on what you have. It's also helpful if you have an idea of flowering time and color. I would advise that you ask only about 2 plants per thread. If you get more, it gets confusing.

Hope that helps.
Ann

What a wonderful talent you have Ann.......I've bookmarked your site for further reference (purchasing ideas ;).

I am so impressed! Got my Hosta order (with the 25% off) today already. I ordered Pandora's Box and Island Charm and they both arrived in wonderful shape. Margot packaged them well and although the poor little things were pretty warm in the box because of the heat here, they look really healthy. I am very pleased. Ü

Don

OK, not so impressed. :(
Got my invoice in the mail from Hosta Choice Gardens. While I did get super speedy delivery, they charged me $27 for shipping bringing my order total for two mini Hostas to $50.10. sigh... I hope they continue to do as well as they look in my garden today.

Don

Ouch. Can you see what the actual cost of postage was?

Yeah...$25.54 Expresspost. I guess you just have to think before you rush in. A bad habit of mine. The Postage wasn't included in the first total. If I had known, I would have declined. But in their defense...I should have asked. Another case of Buyer Beware!