In considering what to write about, I came across the above photo from my spring gardens. It's been awhile since I've talked about hostas, so they are today's topic. I'm not certain how many different hosta cultivars are in the gardens... I suspect that the number is between 100 and 150 based on my incomplete records. Additionally, there are multiples of many of them. One rule that I've tried to stick by, is not to purchase different cultivars that look basically alike. As I visit the hosta gardens of serious collectors, I see remarkable numbers of cultivars that are kept to a couple divisions.. I much prefer the personality that comes as hostas mature into mother plants of seven or more years.The focal point in the bed pictured above is this very old specimen of Montana Aureomarginata originating from 1986 (pictured here in early spring), which really can't be beat for spring color. It was among my first hosta purchases. Prior to that I had only grown gifted hostas such as the row of variegated to the back in the above photo. In the late 1980's, I didn't have a lot of shade. I went through a short phase of buying hostas and didn't make other purchases for years. About five years ago I got involved with a garden group among whom many members were hosta connoisseurs. I joined NE Wisconsin's hosta society, The Green And Gold, and started purchasing a great many hostas. Since I like hostas that grow to very large sizes in particular, I realized last year that I'd best slow down in terms of adding many more to the gardens. So my phase two of hosta purchasing is pretty much past. Time will tell if there is to be a phase three! Today I will focus on a few of those original plants, now twenty-five years old without division for the most part.
A younger plant of Montana Aureomarginata contrasts nicely with the japanese anemones under the larger fern leaf beech in the photo below... the hellebore path can be seen beyond as it winds its way through the center of this bed.
A younger plant of Montana Aureomarginata contrasts nicely with the japanese anemones under the larger fern leaf beech in the photo below... the hellebore path can be seen beyond as it winds its way through the center of this bed.
I've also used Montana Aureomarginata in the front garden. It can be seen in this later season photo, just behind Bressingham Blue next to the fence...
Yes, I would definitely consider Montana Aureomarginata a favorite and I like it best when the flame crab apple is in full bloom and seen below. This is early in the season, so this plant gains considerable stature as the season progresses, in fact, there will be no exposed soil once these hostas are fully expanded.
While the photo above is of the original and never divided plant, here's one final shot of another Montana Aureomarginata grouping showing that they work well with tulips.
There are a number of blues that I really like, but I'd have to say that I am most attached to this specimen of Blue Angel, first purchased in 1986 from Klehm Nurseries, which is now Song Sparrow Nursery in Avalon, Wisconsin... one of the finest mail order nurseries anywhere.
I get the impression from some of my hosta friends that having the very latest in hostas is a big deal. I can easily understand this mentality for many of them are in fact collectors, but for me it really doesn't work. I'm more interested in the overall concept of the landscape and "oldies but goodies" play into that very well. It would not be hard for me to choose my half dozen favorites... right at the top would be Tokudama Aureonebulosa. I have a great affinity for any hostas that have tokudama in them because of the cupped and heavily corrugated leaves. Aureonebulosa is a very slow grower... my plant was installed in 1986 and a few years later moved to its present location, but has never been divided...
Another hosta installed in 1986 that is on my favorites list is Tokudama Flavocircinalis. This plant grows more rapidly than Aureonebulosa for me and I have divided them a few times. The larger specimen pictured below has had one division in twenty-five years. The leaves aren't quite as round as Aureonebulosa and the color is basically reversed, although I think Aureonebulosa is a little bluer... the following photo is slightly out of focus I'm afraid, but it's the only close-up of flavocircinalis that I have...
Flavocircinalis can be seen just in front and to the right of the birch in the following photo...
I find it difficult to take photos of individual hostas that really do justice, and I've observed from a variety of web sites that this can be a problem for others as well. Another 1986 purchase was Sum and Substance pictured below... as many of you will know, it really has to be seen to be fully appreciated...
In the following photo, Sum and Substance can be seen under the variegated maple. Just in front of it is another 20+ year old specimen called Mildred Seaver. Aureonebulosa can be seen just to its front left. Mildred Seaver does a good job of picking up the colors of the maple at this early season time of year...
I will continue on this theme for the next few posts and expand into some of my newer hosta cultivars which I consider to have good potential. If you are a collector of hostas, you probably won't find anything cutting edge, but as I pointed out at the beginning, that's not my goal for my gardens. Putting this post together today reminds me that I sometimes take my hostas for granted. It seems many folks either love or highly dislike hostas. In my experience, hostas could well be appreciated for what they do for the landscape more than they are, and should have an even greater appeal to a larger audience than they do. I guess my point is that hostas aren't just fillers in the gardens of the non-collector... they have a lot to offer when used appropriately and in combination with other shade loving plants.
We are anticipating up to 20" of snow in the next couple of days, although the storm's track isn't totally ascertained. I've been nurturing a slipped disk in my back for the past week with icing, heat, and chiropractic... I am doing better and hopefully will be well enough to use the snow blower if this report turns out to be accurate. Have a great day... as ever, Larry
We are anticipating up to 20" of snow in the next couple of days, although the storm's track isn't totally ascertained. I've been nurturing a slipped disk in my back for the past week with icing, heat, and chiropractic... I am doing better and hopefully will be well enough to use the snow blower if this report turns out to be accurate. Have a great day... as ever, Larry
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