Hosta 'Rosanne'
O - Russell O'Hara
Registered - Russ O'Hara Hosta Society '99
Size - mini/small

Hosta is the Friendship Plant. The very first time I met Audra Wilson she gave me several little hostas, all OS (originator stock) from the garden of her friend, Russ O'Hara. Rosanne is a bright yellow little spring delight named after Russ' wife Rosanne. I had the good fortune to visit Russ O'Hara's garden during the 2004 AHS National Hosta Convention and meet his wife Rosanne and their lovely daughter who was tending Russ' garden. Russ O'Hara was the retired garden editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His garden tells us who Russ was.

Russ O'Hara

Rosanne O'Hara

Russ & Rosanne's daughter tending the garden

Photos from Mike Lemke Index / 2004 AHS National Hosta Convention and Russ O'Hara Hosta Society website

Clematis 'JackManii'

Clematis 'JackManii' maybe should be named 'Old Reliable'. He is an astounding performer putting on a vibrant, long-lasting performance each year. And some years, he reblooms later in the season, not as profusely as his early display but there are blossoms to enjoy.

Jackmanii requires minimal care. I just throw a little cheap fertilizer around the base of the plant in early spring (some years). They say Jackmanii blooms on new wood (vine) so should be cut back close to the ground each year before new growth appears. They say if this is not done blooms may be sparse on the bottom half of the vine. I've done both, pruned & not pruned as I am always behind in the garden. This year (2007), Jack began to leaf-out before I got my pruners tuned-up for spring. Where my vine grows on the east end of the shade house. sparse blooming near the bottom of the vine is of no real consequence to me. Hopefully, I'll get it cut back to about 6" early this spring.

I have 3 or 4 other clematis around here but Jack always steals the show. Of course, the other vines are not as mature as Jack nor do they have such ideal growing conditions to live in. Clematis like to have their roots protected from extreme heat & moisture loss. Mulching around the base of the plant fulfills this requirement. They also love 6 hours of full sun but would prefer to avoid the scorching late afternoon sun. Jack has his roots inside the shade house in clay soil that holds moisture and avoids the afternoon sun on the east end of the shade house. He rewards me well for giving him such a perfect spot to showoff all summer long. At times his flower show just takes my breath away. It is gorgeous!

Hosta 'Diane Gray Dalton'

"Another of Mildred's beautiful plants, this time in the form of Diane Gray Dalton. Mildred has named a few of her introductions for dear friends of hers and this is one of those. Diane Gray Dalton is a plantswomen in the Boston suburbs and both she and her beautiful shade garden estate have been featured in garden magazines and on gardening programs such as House and Garden Television and Home Matters. The beautiful streaking may take some upkeep to keep the solids out, but upkeep like that sure beats weeding! A very rare plant to see offered.

Streaked breeder:
Large, round, domed green leaf with yellow and cream streaks.
Very blue, very heavy-textured, very beautifully streaked.

A seldom offered unstable streaked breeding plant from Mildred Seaver. Green heart-shaped leaves streaked with white and cream yellow."

MyHostas Database: 'Diane Gray Dalton'

Hosta 'Diane Gray Dalton' is awesome. I am growing it in the shade house in partnership with a hosta friend. Yes, that translates into it was too expensive to buy on my own. We won it on auction at an AHS convention a couple years ago. It has been slow to grow but only in the ground 2 years now. This next season hopefully it will multiply to the point it can be safely divided so my hosta friend can have his share. It will be difficult to divide such a perfect specimen.

Hosta 'Sparkling Burgundy'

Upright vase-shaped deep green, glossy leaves / dark purple flower scapes & petioles. flowers - burgundy-purple with purple spotting / late summer. Vigorous grower - beautiful in container.
MyHostas Database: 'Sparkling Burgundy'

I have came to a new appreciation for hosta 'Sparkling Burgundy' this past summer. It had grown too large for my mini-bed. I couldn't figure out where to replant it so I stuck it in a pot on the porch of my potting shed. It was really fun & so pretty in its pot that now it's on my favorite list. I put it in the ground to winter-over in my shade house. It put on a fabulous blooming performance. I hope it will survive to be potted-up again.

Hosta 'Vanilla Cream'

Changes colors - comes out light limey-green, blends to chartreuse and finally gold (yellow). Also described - chartreuse with blends of gold & cream.
MyHostas Database: 'Vanilla Cream'

Important progeny:

Academy Flaxen Spades - hybrid
Academy Verdant Spades - hybrid
Heart and Soul - sport
Ice Cream - sport
Ladybug - hybrid
Peppermint Cream - sport
Shell Bell - sport
Wylde Green Cream - sport

Hosta 'Hope'

I love this little hosta. It is almost as perfect as H 'Pandora's Box". There is another sport of 'Baby Bunting' named Cherish that is also just a wonderful little plant. It is the reverse of 'Hope' or the exact same plant as 'Pandora's Box' except the center is yellow / gold changing to off-white cream color. I recommend every mini-hosta bed include 'Baby Bunting' along with all it's sports. However, for me hostas 'Hope' & 'Cherish' have not grown as hardily as 'Pandora's Box' or the fabulous all green hosta 'Baby Bunting'. - MM

"Shady Oaks introduction; gold edged sport of 'Baby Bunting'; small but nicely formed with tiny purple flowers in early summer. This is the second in the series of miniature hostas that arose as mutations from Hosta 'Baby Bunting'. This cutie makes an 8" wide mound of tiny, round green leaves, each with a dramatic 1/2" wide golden margin. The equally tiny 11" tall scapes top the plant in summer. H. 'Hope' is perfect for a rock garden, trough, or in a special case where a stunning miniature is needed. Since H. 'Hope' is so small, do not plant it near larger hostas, or it can be easily lost."
MyHostas Database: Hope