Surveying the Hostas
I’m procrastinating. Or maybe I’m percolating. At any rate, I’ve decided to survey the hostas.
In the Secret Garden: Far right is Dream Weaver. In front of it is June, then Stained Glass, Krossa Royal (next to the garage), then Francee, and Great Expectations sits to the back of this photo. There are, of course, astilbe and heuchera mixed in, not to mention hydrangeas and a big old bleeding heart.
The large hosta in the rear is a division of Elegans. In front of it to the left is Francis Williams. Left of Francis is another Elegans (I keep dividing this monster!). The left front hosta is Orange Marmalade. Center front is Lakeside Beach Captain. On the far right is Wheaton Blue.
Lower Garden: Another shot of Elegans. To the right of it is Stained Glass. And on the far right is Abiqua Drinking Gourd. Peeking out behind Stained Glass is another Dream Weaver.
Lower Garden: On the far right, just in view, is Elegans. To the left is Hanky Panky. The bright green hosta next to it is a mystery to me, but might be Maui Buttercup. (sorry for the blurriness!)
Lower Garden: Strip Tease and a mystery hosta that a friend gave me. That’s a Francis Williams to the left of the mystery hosta. I think the hosta behind Strip Tease is Ryan’s Big One.
Secret Garden: Moerheim
Secret Garden: Deep Blue Sea, Orange Crush
Lower Garden: Halcyon in foreground, Elegans on the right under the cherry tree, Hanky Panky (though it’s hard to see in this shot), and Regal Splendor to the left of the cherry tree.
Front Garden: On the left is Francis Williams. Next to it is Lakeside Beach Captain. On its right is Elegans. And tucked away next to Elegans is Pineapple Upsidedown Cake.
Secret Garden: Allegan Fog, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Stitich in Time, Ghost Spirit. Behind these is Dream Weaver.
Lower Garden: Lucy Vitols in the center. That’s Rhino Hide in the pot to the left. I’ve almost lost it twice, but it comes coming back from the brink. There is a Kaleidechrome almost hidden by the pot of argula. There’s a bit of Thai basil peeking out of the pot on the right.
I loved seeing all your different hostas. I have Krossa Regal and Francee, in my garden, too, but I never had any luck getting Elegans or Frances Williams established. My favorite is probably the species parent of Krossa Regal and all the vase-shaped hostas, H. nigrescens; I have divided it several times and now have it growing in three different places.
Elegans is almost the bully of the garden. It doesn’t matter how many “toes” I sheer off the original plant, it just gets bigger and bigger. And so do its offspring. Last year a woman who was selling hostas at the same market I set up in scoffed at Francis Williams hosta saying they were boring. But I love them. For me, they are big gentle giants. I wish you had better luck with them, but maybe Maine is just too far north???