Garden Bed #13 - page 2

Hosta 'Thumbelina'

Do I like the plant or do I just like the name? Or is it just the fond childhood memory of the fairy tale "Thumbelina" that turns me on with this plant? I don't know! But this mini-small hosta is "my favorite". She is such a little show-off, yet sweet, and such a dainty little miss. When Thumbelina blooms it is impossible not to notice her flirting. She is extremely prolific - producing tons of seeds. Thumbelina isn't fickle about growing conditions. She grows like crazy without any extra effort or fussing. She's just a little wonder. No, wait, "Little Wonder" is the name of another awesome little mini hosta but he's a boy.

Hosta 'Aristocrat'

"This is a 1997 sport of Eric Smith's 'Hadspen Blue' from Walters Gardens. The leaves have an irregular cream-white margin & a powder blue center. The plant has the best characteristics of Smith's plant but with a wonderful edge to set off the leaf. It has lavender flowers & is a medium sized plant." Hostas.netDatabase - "Hosta Library"

I have never seen a picture of hosta 'Aristocrat' that does it justice. You just have to see it "in person" to appreciate all its positive attributes. And when you do, you will love it. 'Aristocrat' is a classy little guy that can stand up to the biggest & the best in the hosta world - IMHO.

I believe a big shot in the "Hosta World" recently published an article in "The Hosta Journal" attesting to the beauty & overall quality characteristics of this little fellow. Of course, if you are a "Hosta - Person" you know Eric Smith is the ground floor hybridizer of the 'Hadspen' line of hostas from England; a true pioneer in the hosta kingdom.

Bengal Tiger Canna 2006

Canna 'Tropicana'

I'd been lusting after Canna 'Tropicana' for quite a few years. They were difficult to find & then too expensive for me. (Did I really say that? I, who once paid - $250.00 for a single eye of a totally unknown hosta.) LMBO at myself! (laughing my butt off)

Early summer 2006: I was carousing around incognito, at the little backyard nursery where my youngest daughter works. My heart skipped a beat as I spied a big pot of Tropicana cannas. I circled around them several times, finally picked the pot up, put it down, picked it up, put it down, finally picked it up & told myself, "You deserve it". I just bit the bullet & paid the price. Oh, my goodness, I'm so glad I did. I got so much pleasure watching these marvelous cannas show-off in my garden all season long. To me, it was well worth the money! I'm just hoping the tubers survive winter storage so they can perform their grand summer finale many times over in "Marlys' Gardens".

Hosta 'Harry Van Trier'

Hosta 'Harry Van Trier' is new in my garden 2006. I purchased it from my friend, Josh Spece in the very early spring-time. It is fast becoming a favorite even though it is just a small, all green plant. It bloomed its "fool-head off" in late summer adding profuse blossoms to the garden as other flowers were fading. I like it's upright form & rippled margin. It also exhibits good leaf substance & was not bothered by slugs at all.

Jan Spruyt-Van Der Jeugd Introduction from Belgium

On Jul 26, 2003, janspruyt wrote:

"This variety with a lot of Hosta sieboldii-blood is breeded by Jan Spruyt, perennial grower in Flanders-Belgium. This slug free Hosta can be used as a mixed-border plant while it is the most abundant flowering Hosta I know. This green-leafed Hosta flowers till end of September and is the eye-catcher in my 120 variety Hosta assortment."
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/5187.html

July 11, 2007

Hosta 'Seventh Heaven'

It's easy to see how this wonderful plant got its name. It has everything a hosta could want. It's streaked with color, grows well, has very fragrant flowers, and sets fertile seed. Seventh Heaven is just plain a great plant that always gets noticed in the garden.

My neighbor, Trudy gave me a small tc Seventh Heaven plant in the late summer 2006. It amazed me with it's growth this season - setting a second flush of growth late in the season. It is a delightful plant. I love it!

Hosta 'Baby Bunting'

H-'Baby Bunting' is an outstanding dwarf / mini-hosta. IMHO - it is perfect and should be included in every hosta garden. It is a strong grower, wonderful in a rock garden, a container, or along the garden path. Yes, it is all green (blue). Remember, green is a color. Only H-'Pandora's Box' out shines it parent plant, 'Baby Bunting' with its dramatic crisp color contrast.

"One of the best dwarf hostas, round blue-green leaves with white flowers."

Progeny:

'Cameo' - sport (green/white)
'Cherish' - sport (yellow/green)
'Hope' - sport (green/yellow)
'Pandora's Box' - sport (white/green)

"Considered by many to be one of the best dwarf hostas."
Savory Shield Award winner from Savory - 1982
The plant is sterile
maturity 12" diameter - 6" high

http://www.hostalibrary.org/b/b.html

See more Hosta 'Baby Bunting' in Bed 21.

Hosta 'Little Wonder Streaked'

Little streaked plants are very "sought-after" in the Hosta World. Neighbor, Trudy (Holland Drive Gardens) gave this little fellow to me. He is a fun little guy and does his own thing in garden bed #13. Part of him is reverting to the solid form of 'Little Wonder'. I will divide those eyes off & give them away or donate them to the Ways & Means auction for my local garden club. Hostas can be the gift that keeps on giving. Hosta is the Friendship Plant!

See about Hosta 'Little Wonder' in Bed 6 - page 2.

Hosta 'Diamond Tiara'

Another in the 'Tiara Series' of hostas. Vigorous, quick grower, enjoys some sunshine in the garden. Nothing special but a really nice & easy little plant.

Hosta 'Gone Fishing'

Well what can I say - not every hosta is all it's cranked up to be. 'Gone Fishing' or ('Gone Fishin') is a prime example of that. In spring it emerges streaked / misted with white sort of like H-'Spilt Milk'. It's pretty cool but the misting melts away in no time at all (like 2 weeks) leaving another beautiful but plain sieboldiana type hosta in the garden. It is not a bad plant, just not what one might hope it should be. A prime example of salesman ship & fools parting with their money. Me being one of them. I'm ashamed to tell what I paid for this plant. Not one of my happiest hosta experiences. Still, it is pretty & will eventually become quite large (I hope) & become an anchor in the garden. I'm actually hoping it grows up to be just like H-'Elegans' only greener! 'Elegans' is maybe, the best plant in all of my gardens. I love it! - MM

Hosta 'Gone Fishing' and 'Stealth'