Whirlwind is a truly unique hosta. He really can't be mistaken for any other hosta. He's a favorite!

This was taken just before wind took a tree from this bed. Whirlwind had to be moved to a new home & so did many of his hosta cousins. It was very discouraging for me. Ron & I are contemplating how to best restore this area. I found a new walnut tree growing in this bed & I didn't pull it out. However, I don't know if I'm up to the mess & rubble a walnut tree creates.

June had to be moved summer 2003 due to construction plans here. She doesn't look at all like herself since she is in so much more shade in bed #5C. June seems to love lots of morning sunshine.

Hostas: Pilgrim & pretty little yellow ones; Large dark green ones; Ventricosa (a weed) & Birchwood's Ruffled Queen. In the background larger bright yellow is Granary Gold.

There has been a long controversy over if yellow hostas should be called gold hostas or yellow hostas. At the National Hosta Convention '04 Dr Bob Olson announced; Yellow is now the proper term to use.

This most well-known surprise lily grows vigorously from a 2" bulb. In mid to late summer long after we've forgotten where the long leaves grew in early spring, they erupt from dormancy to entertain & delight us. Each strong straight stem is topped with a cluster of 6-8 slightly nodding lilac pink flowers that put on a spectacular short show. Their fragrance is intoxicating to both humans & bees. I've seen bees drunkly plummet from bloom to bloom gorging themselves with summer's last feast.

Surprise lily comes from the orient either Japan or China or maybe both. They thrive in poor soils & like full sun the best but will grow in part shade. An absolute "no care" wonderfully, fun plant.

Years ago Snow-on-the-Mountain became a part of life for me. My daughter & I bought a little house from my friend Cora Hol when she moved to a retirement home. Cora loved gardening. It was hard for her to give up her veggie garden & flower beds.

Exploring Cora's gardens was intriguing. Being an old farmer's wife Cora had her own gardening methods. It was here I got acquainted with what Cora called 'Snow-on-the-Mountain'. Hundreds of strange plants jumped up in sunny planting spaces. My daughter & I wondered if they were weeds. Plants that are that prolific could easy be weeds. Cora laughed when I asked about them. She said they self-seed everywhere & just pull 'em out where we didn't want them to grow.

Garden visitors always asked what is that plant? But no one believed it was Snow-on-the-Mountain because of the other foliage plant that goes by the same common name. So it was a mystery to solve.

Finally I found information on the plant in a book recommended during my Master Gardener course, "Weeds of Nebraska and the Great Plains" Published by Nebraska Dept. of Agriculture.

This is what I learned. It is called Snow-on-the-Mountain & is a close relative of poinsettia. It is usually considered poisonous but Mourning Doves eat the seeds without harm. The plant contains a milky juice that is caustic & can cause skin irritation. It's the showy bracts with white to pinkish margins that make the plant pretty. It is grown as an ornamental by some people like Cora & now me.

I share the seed with garden friends. A mutual friend of Cora & mine says, "Anyone who's ever known Cora has 'Snow-on-the-Mountain'.

www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/snow.html

Hosta 'Java' has become my favorite green plant. When grown in the right amount of shade it's nearly blue-black in color. In fact the 'Hosta Library' lists the color as blue-green. I love the heavy substance, round leaf shape, the deep veining and the little puckers. Java is the solid form of the famous hosta, 'Brim Cup'. Another thing that makes Java special for me is, it was a gift from our neighbor, friend, and fellow hosta-lover, David.

Hosta 'Granary Gold'

Brilliant spring color in the garden / slowly changes to green by August
Fortunei Aurea' seedling / Eric Smith / 1998

Hosta 'Granary Gold' 2007

MyHostas: 'Granary Gold'

Special plant to me - shared with me by Larry Clemons of Ladon's Gardens Epworth, IA.

Hosta Lancifolia

The famous line, "I get no respect" by Rodney Daingerfield aptly describes hosta 'Lancifolia'. No greater hosta exists, IMHO. Lancifolia is the essence of GREEN! But since he's been around forever, everyone just takes him for granite. Lancifolia grows easily, needs no special cuddling, blooms profusely, sets seeds, & produces lovely offspring. Lance, as I refer to him isn't picky about where he grows and seems to tolerated drought well. The lance shaped leaves waltz beautifully in the garden filling in where others refuse to grow. Perhaps Lancifolia could better be, thought of as a knight in shining armor; dubbed "Sir Lancelot-folia". MM

quote - "Hosta Library"
'Lancifolia' was the first hosta introduced to Western botany. One was acquired by Kaempfer in 1692. Von Siebold sent the first live 'Lancifolia' plants to Holland in 1829. It's origin is unknown, and it is thought to be sieboldii in nature. An excellent groundcover and edger, it is cultivated around the world and is easy to propagate by division. Schmid indicates the plant is 14-20'" in diameter and 12" high. The oval-lance-shaped leaves (4-6" x 2-3") are smooth and a shiny medium green on top and a glossy lighter green below. The leaves have 5-6 pairs of veins and are undulate and slightly wavy in the margin. The green scape has purplish red dots on the lower third and is straight, lax and leaning. The funnel-shaped flower is purple-violet. It blooms late and is considered pod-sterile. 'Lancifolia' is often mistaken for cathayana. which is generally similar except it is fertile. 'Lancifolia' prefers light shade but is sun and drought tolerant. It is sometimes found under the names 'Saji Giboshi' or 'Koba Giboshi'. http://www.hostalibrary.org/l/l.html

"This is the grandfather of Hosta groundcover. The lush tropical green lance-shape leaves are among the first to rise in the spring and the last to bed for winter. Tremendous groundcovering ability, and if left undisturbed it spreads into very large colonies, which makes it perfect for mass plantings. Beautiful vase-shaped plant. Lancifolia, the "little hosta," was the first representative of Hosta to be introduced to Western botany. Sun resistant. (Plant 18x12)" - MyHostas database / The Hosta Library

Hosta 'Francee'

"'Francee' won the AHS Eunice Fisher Award in 1976. It was registered in 1986 by Minnie Klopping. The 10 pairs of veins appear very raised on these dark green, white margined leaves. Fast growing for such a stunning hosta. People are drawn to this one in my garden. It holds its 3' wide form well and supports the lavender flowers on sturdy stalks. It is a sport of 'Fortunei Hyacinthina', and perhaps the best white-margined one."
www.hostalibrary.org/f/f.html

"Oldie but Goodie" - "Classic", describe hosta 'Francee' in the horticultural / hosta world. She is a knockout plant. Dark green leaves (in shade) with a narrow concise pure white margin borders. Francee will tolerate a lot of sunshine, however her beautiful dark green color will be much lighter when grown in sun. She grows easily & quickly. A mature specimen is a sight to behold. Francee is a spectacular plant due the utmost dignity & respect. I have 3 or 4 or more Francee hostas around here. They always get noticed especially the ones in the sun. People think hostas won't grow in sun but Francee does & looks darn good! Francee in the shade house is absolutely perfect too. This hosta should be included in every shade garden. IMHO