yes - i think we've been lucky it's survived as long as it has. I'm a total neophyte when it comes to gardening stuff, so am learning on the fly. Folks who normally called the shots with respect to communal garden I'm a part of have moved on..I have sort of taken over by default (no one else interested). I think we have to try to move it to bigger container with some more soil/nutrients, etc and cross our fingers it pulls out of the nose dive. We have two other conifers of similar vintage (I'm guessing better part of 20 years) that seem to be doing fine. Luck of the draw I guess. Thanks for all the advice.

AH, you mean you have BARRELS beneath that mass of petunias? I would never have suspected it. !!!!!!! That is beautiful. Well, I'm at a loss. When you say HOT EXPOSED, just for how long a time and really is it a cooking sort of exposure? With all that protection surrounding the hosta, I can see that it keeps the soil cool and the only exposure will be to the leaves, not the petioles at all, nor the roots. Not sure which hosta to suggest. For the growth habit, something SIMILAR to Elegans, BUT do not know if it can take the direct sunlight all day long, even as far north as you are. I have one new Elegans, and it seems to like the morning sun early, and the afternoon sun late, it is truly elegant and growing rapidly. And then I like Climax, which is big bold and beautiful, plus tall. And then maybe Liberty or Sagae? To compete with the mass of petunia, I think it will need to be a vigorous strong growing hosta. Are you wanting to do something unique, or can you find inspiration over at Myrle's garden? Or at her sister's garden? Those photos are all inspiring.

If you bought two containers, then you likely have two plants. No, the solid leaves will not take over the other plant. It is likely to take over the one it's part of, though. I can only tell you what I've read. I've never dealt with it, personally. it would be great if you could keep the one with the blue edges. As far as I know there is not a sport of Halcyon that has blue edges and a white center. Halcyon is a beautiful plant. It is hardy and has few problems, as far as I know. I'm in Texas and grow in pots, so mine get the worst environment where hosta can survive . My Halcyon survived a dread disease and two years of neglect and recovered to be a beautiful plant. I can't tell you what will work for you. If you do nothing, you are likely to have a pot with a blue side and a white and blue side. If you like that, then do nothing. They are not likely to intermingle, at least I've never heard of it. If you want to keep the whole pot blue and white, then you can take back the one with the blue part and tell them you want one that is not reverting. Or, you can post a new thread* and see if you can get someone to explain how to remove the blue part. Personally, if I didn't want the blue side, I'd pull that one up and take it back to the nursery where I bought it. Most hostaphiles would try to save the blue edged part as it's unusual. It won't necessarily come back next year. The blue side will most likely come back next year. bkay *People are not likely to notice your "dissecting" question at the bottom of this thread about container growing, so I suggest a new thread.

yes on pot in pot ... or just take the pot with the plant.. and tip it on its side after its dormant ... and put it on the north side of something.. so no winter sun on a black pot .... get it dormant.. keep it dormant.. and dont drown it mid winter ... even better if its covered in snow all winter ... on its side ken