Garden Bed #12 - page 6

Asiatic Lily 'Lolipop'

Asiatic Lily 'Montenegro'

Hosta 'Summer Music'

"Klehm says, "very colorful variegated hosta with ovate leaves having snow white center and irregular gold and chartreuse margin. Moderate growth rate / petiole white with a green margin." - Lemke Database / Hosta Library

My poor hosta 'Summer Music' lives in mostly all sun. It's had a difficult life. I wish I had a better spot for it to live in. They say it's not an easy plant to grow due to its wide white center so maybe it's not just me or its living quarters that has made it slow to thrive. It nearly dissipated to nothing at one point. The center starts out such a pretty yellow color then turns pure white as the season progresses. Finally the last two years my plant has stayed nice all season long and developed some pebbled corrugation. It's a nice plant that easily passes the 10' rule (or is that the 20' rule). (I think the rule is a test that proves the plant is distinct enough that a hosta expert would recognize it on sight from 10' - 20' away. In other words, the plant is just not another pretty face that looks like every other skinny blonde in the world, and not all hostas look the same.) You know I've actually heard people say out-loud they don't see what the big deal is with hostas. That they are just another pretty green plant. They just don't get it! All that, be as it may; I still really enjoy 'Summer Music' in my garden. - MM

Hosta 'Allegan Fog'

Hosta Allegan Fog created quite a stir with its unique misty medio variegated leaves at the 2000 AHS national convention. The leaves may turn slightly green late in the growing season.

Allegan Fog certainly passes the 20' rule in the hosta garden. Wonderful, unique gentleman hosta. Enjoys dappled sunshine / shade.

I always wonder how plants get their names. Like, what does the work Allegan mean? Quick research shows it is an Indian word meaning "Lake of the Algonquins". The word Algonquins is the name of an Indian tribe. The Alleghen Indian tribe inhabited this area prior to its settlement in what is now Michigan. There is an Allegan county and the city of Allegan, MI which is built on the site of an Indian village. We may surmise that the hosta "Allegan Fog' is thus named for an area along the shoreline of Lake Michigan where fog might roll in off the water.

Hosta 'Golden Friendship' with her friends

My hosta, 'Golden Friendship' is special to me as it denotes the bond between myself & my Hosta Friends! It has been extremely slow to grow & it required some pampering but finally it is maturing and becoming a "knockout" specimen. Another blonde favorite in my gardens.

There is rumored controversy as to who Hosta 'Golden Friendship' really is. Hosta 'Golden Prayers' and Hosta 'Golden Friendship' are what we might say, "Kissin' Cousins" in the hosta world.

Many identify dilemmas prevail in the Hosta World. Many similar plants have been introduced, some plants have been separated from their names in one way or another, and maybe some are twins without sharing DNA, unknowingly introduced by different hybridizers.

Thousands of hosta cultivars exist and the population is ever- growing. Not only are big-time hybridizers growing hostas from seed and separating discovered sports (mutations) off mother plants or out of tc (tissue culture) processes; but many novice home-gardeners plant hosta seeds and go (sport-fishing) looking for something different. Secretly we all want to be rich and famous and that one single hosta plant that we grow from seed, or we discover might just be our ticket to stardom. - MM

Hosta 'Peace'

"This wonderful small hosta to 9" wide is one of my favorite recent introductions. The dusty blue leaves have a bicolor variegation... beginning white on the outside, then changing to a chartreuse border with a streak of white between the chartreuse and the blue... very distinctive and absolutely charming! In mid summer, the clumps are topped with lavender blue flowers on 12" scapes."
Statement by Paul Aden via MyHostas Database: Peace
Hosta Library

I cherish my hosta 'Peace'. It is a very nice little plant with thick, nicely substanced blue-green leaves & a nice bright bordering margin that is yellow is spring and becomes creamy white as the season progresses. It is a vigorous grower and demands no extra attention to flourish in the garden.

When my dad died I knew that for the first time in decades he was "at peace". After a permanent marker was placed on his grave-site in the little country cemetery where his ashes were buried, I brought the temporary marker home. I knew right where to put in - by hosta 'Peace'.

My dad's sister later died of Ovarian Cancer. I dug half of hosta 'Peace' and sent to her husband in Minnesota. He had created a shade garden honoring my aunt's memory. It was very touching / therapeutic on both ends.

Hosta 'Maui Buttercups'

"Considered by many to be one of, if not the best of the small gold hostas. Leaves are bright gold, rounded and cupped, held upright and nicely puckered."
MyHostas Database: Maui Buttercups

"Small mound of gold foliage that is highly cupped and puckered. The rounded, medium yellow leaves are cupped and rugose with a leathery substance that gives them a sculptural quality in the garden.

'Maui Buttercups' 14 x 10" with 18" scapes

The plant grows quite slowly at first but finally attains an average growth rate."
Hosta Library

My neighbor, Trudy used to go on and on about what an awesome the little hosta 'Maui Buttercups' is. So, I was tickled pink when I received hosta 'Maui Buttercups' in a secret trade via the Hallson's Hosta Forum. Each year the members sign up for the 'Spring Trade' and most years there is a 'Fall Trade'. We dig starts of plants from our gardens to share with others. It's fun & a good way to get new plants and make new hosta friends.

I love yellow hostas and 'Maui Buttercups' is really yellow and stays yellow all season long. I love cupped-up, thick substance pebbled leaves, which 'Maui Buttercups' has. And I love plants that grow easily and have an upward shape. IMHO - Maui Buttercups is an awesome little plant. With parentage of two historically spectacular plants like hosta 'Frances Williams' & hosta 'August Moon' how could it not be a perfect little plant.

Thank you again, Ken Harris for sharing 'Maui Buttercups' with me. It's now a favorite in 'Marlys' Garden'

Hosta 'Ginsu Knife'

"A wide, irregularly cream colored margined hosta with serrate margins and white fragrant flowers; the arching leaves have large undulations and some twisting. Unique."
MyHostas Database: Ginsu Knife

H 'Ginsu Knife' is such a graceful lady. Her frilly margined leaves seem to just float on the air. She's such a sophisticated gal. She deserves a much better spot in the garden so she can show off her stuff. H 'Ginsu Knife' is becoming a favorite in Marlys' Garden. I am anxious to see her when she gets all grown up.