Well me. Sort of. I've been lurking for months, and asked a question once, but generally I don't post. I have been reading avidly, though.
I'm Canadian, garden in southwestern Ontario and co-own a plant nursery. Our main business is perennials. We sell about 115 hosta varieties, but I grow about 60 or 70 more than we sell. I like to try them in the gardens before I offer them for sale. There are so many varieties, I might as well offer the ones I like.
I never did think I would become so fond of them. I remember defending myself from a nursery man when he said I was becoming increasingly fascinated by hosta. As if it were an accusation.
This year, I have a new garden space, approximately 1,000 sq. feet, situated at the edge of our hardwood forest. It's a lovely space and a lovely size. I am very much looking forward to spring.

I am relatively new. I have been lurking on and off for about 6 months. I have mostly full sun and just started a shade garden.

Kathy

welcome to all ...

there is a hosta club in the greater windsor ONT area .... i have good friends in harrow who i could link you up with ... if you are interested in joining the group ....

ken

I'm new to this forum. I've been over in the Perennials forum for a couple months.

I work in the industry and am somewhat of a Hosta collector. My current favourite: 'Northern Exposure'.

A friendly welcome to all of you! You're invited to post a question or picture of your garden whenever you'd like! We enjoy what each person brings to the Hosta Forum. :) Don

Indeed, a hearty welcome to you all. I see 2 out of the 3 acknowledged newbies are fellow Canucks, welcome eh. I find it interesting both of you are involved in the industry, make sure you follow the rules with respect to promoting, we'd hate to loose you.

You will find there are quite a few us hanging out in this forum, both on the discussion side and the gallery one. Don't hesitate please to jump in any time, there's nothing like a lively exchange to expand one's knowledge and understanding.

Don't worry Pietertje. I come here to forget about business, not to get it. Besides, we don't do mail order, so what we grow or don't grow is largely irrelevant to most of you.
I just wanted to meet some people and finally confess. I love hosta. There. I said it.

Yeah! Another Canadian Hostaholic has come out of the woodwork! We're all here to support you..... as enablers!

I am a bit new to this forum as well-
Although I have always liked hosta and enjoyed many for years now, I really got bit by the hosta bug this last season when several local MN gardeners (friends to boot!) thought to divide and swap our hosta with each other to expand our collections. And- last season was my first visit to HostaDirect and meeting Tom Carlson. Needless to say, my collection grew enormously last season!
I also have had the pleasure of meeting a neighborhood guy who has been breeding hosta for quite some time and he has been sharing his knowledge and passion as well as a plant or 2, so I have been learning a bit as I go along.
It is with great interest that I have been cruisin' the forum- and remain forever jealous of warmer zones with pips peeping!
For me, this season, it's time to watch the new beds and new babies grow and flourish, and play with flowers and pollen, bags and foil.

It's good to meet you all-

Julie

I join my hosta friends above. Ask anything and remember that there no stupid questions...Glad that you're joining us.

Papou

I just joined yesterday. Lots of good info on this site!

Welcome, astilbe! What zone are you in? Do you currently have a hosta garden? Feel free to post and share your questions and experiences! :)

Welcome everyone!

Ninamarie, I'm so jealous...I would love to own a nursery! I could write off this obsession on my taxes as a business expense! That nursery man sounds like an idiot, BTW.

I'm looking forward to your posts, photos, and questions!

I've included a link at the bottom to help you get acquainted with me and how "my" hosta obsession started. I just created it over the weekend, though, so it is not done yet! Feel free to look anyway!

Char

Here is a link that might be useful: Char's Hosta-Haven

Welcome Everyone...Not been here too long myself. But I've learned/am learning so much from everyone here.

Char.. I'm so jealous. Your gardens are so lovely.

Alexis

I may have said hello before - but I will say hello again! I lurk when I have time & drool over the pics & long for nice weather & time in the garden. I have quite a few hostas, none labeled - you guys are good! I hope to take some pics this summer & post -

hostapasta (Karen, in Western NY)

Welcome everybody! Julie, it's good to see you over here :-)

Thanks Char. It's as much fun as it sounds. Truly the best job i've ever had in my long and inglorious career. (Except my boss is an ass.)
And I've learned that there is a definite difference between the nursery and its hosta collection and me any my hosta collection.
The nursery wants hostas in substantial enough numbers to sell and make a profit. It's very cautious about new varieties. It doesn't want look-alikes, and it has to watch its budget.
I, on the other hand, just want hostas and don't give a fig about profit. And I want them as specimens. Everywhere.
That's why I'm so excited about my new, huge, gardening space. It gives me a chance to garden grow a whole bunch of new hosta.
I like your website a lot and look forward to exploring it at leisure. But today, I pack and my loved one will take me off to a warm country for three weeks. Lots of lovely plants, but no hosta there.

I'm new to the forum but not new to hostas. They are very much a part of my childhood memories. I'm really enjoying looking at all the beautiful varieties everyone grows. I love the variety.

Hi, I am new to the forum. I love hostas, just got started a couple years ago. Don`t have as many as I would like,(living on a fixed income) darn!! Love looking at all the pretty gardens, Papou, your gardens make me jealous, so happy for you.

I am new to the Hosta Forum. I appreciate plants with lush foliage and a healthy hosta is truly a thing of beauty. I can understand why the deer can't resist them.

The photographs on this Gallery are amazing. I suspect that some of the posters here are guilty of enabling.

The hostas in my garden are all crowded by larger trees and shrubs. I am preparing to transplant some and am looking for basic care information.

Hi
I'm new to the hosta forum but not the FAR NORTH GARDENING forum. I plan on putting in a new bed this year with hostas and ferns. Not sure which hostas I'll get yet but really love the blues.
Kathy

Welcome Kathy

Added a link below to some blues.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Blues

Hi there,
Yes I'm fairly new as well (this is my first post) I'm still getting to learn my way around the site. Is there a section with retailers? I'm looking for some new places to shop and thought this would be a good place to start.
Thanks

I'm new here today, but not new to GW. I impulsively bought 10 hostas yesterday and can't plant them outside. A couple of gracious members helped me out. I'm usually on greenhouse, soil & compost, and Ozarks forums.

Looking forward to learning a lot about hostas from you all!
Sunny

I'm just a guy that found this Garden Web site 8 years ago.
I was helped by many hostaholics. Some of us come and go...but we all seem to come back at one time or another....it's great fun.
I dont sell any hosta. I have a website devoted just to hostas. It has a lot of info concerning HOSTAS.
You may click on the link below if you're interested.

Papou

Here is a link that might be useful: Papou's hosta website

HI there everyone,

I'm a newbie to GW. I've been a reader from time to time, but I've recently gotten bitten by the hosta bug BAD and just had to come out of the shadows and join.

Husband and I have moved to Lunenburg NS from Calgary. What a difference it is to live here in this zone compared to Calgary's zone 3! Another big change is that we had a miniscule sun baked slice of land in Calgary, but 2 glorious acres here with lots of dappled shade. So, my two measely hostas back there has turned into full blown hosta-itis here. What can I say??

This year will be my second full summer in NS (although I spent time here summer 2007). I had about 5 or so mature unnamed clumps that came with the house. I added 5 or so in 2007, was gifted many clumps from neighbours in 2008 along with another 8 or 10 named purchases, and this year I've ordered another 41 and have arranged 10 others in trade SO FAR.

That's the thing about hostas isn't it? It might take a while, but it does become an obsession - although husband says it's a disease :>(

I look forward to talking to you all again!

Gardenitis
Welcome to Nova Scotia. One of the best places to grow hostas and a lot of other plants, especially rhododendrons.
You are not very far from Bayport where Capt. Steel has his plant farm. He is known world wide for his rhodos, magnolias and other plants, also some for sale. Enter Recreating Eden in your computer and you will find a lot of info about him. He is very interesting to talk to.
Also the Atlantic Rhododenron & Horticultural Society have a plant sale, including hostas, in May in Halifax, info about them is online as well. There is also the Halifax Marketplace on the Waterfront, I have not been there yet, but Pat Vinnish goes there with his hostas.
One of my favorite places for hostas is the Briar Patch just outside of Berwick, Kings Co. He collects hostas.
I am in Shelburne, 1 1/2 hours from you.

Happy gardening.

Well hi there Hostarhodo,

Thanks so much for the welcome! It is so nice to touch base with a fellow passionate Nova Scotian! I visit Capt. Steel quite often and always leave with something neat (usually many somethings actually). I'm going to definitely check out that website as well as the Atlantic Rhodo/Hort Society site. I definitely don't want to miss that plant sale or any others, so if you hear of more, please let me know.

I have just placed my spring order with Pat; 40+ new hostas and I can barely wait! By the way, do you swap?

Thanks so much for all the information. Exciting!!!

I have not done a swap yet, hoping to do one with a guy from Halifax this year. Maybe we could try one as well. I have a few on your list. Will let you know what I have. Also he may contact you.

Betty

Well then Hostarhodo,

I love to swap. Other than trading with the gardeners I have met around my area, this year will be my first for mail swaps. I look forward to hearing from you (the guy from Halifax and all others) to set up some trades!

By the way, I have quite a few rhodos - old and new. Aren't they stunning? Last year was my first spring in the hosue and I was blown away by the spring bloom! If I could figure out how to add a photo, I would but haven't been able to yet:>( Oh well. Soon...I hope.

Take care & talk soon,
Michelle

Hi I'm new. I just happened over this site, and just found the hosta forum. I love hostas and love to garden with them. I hope to find some friends and ideas. Nice to meet you all. LoriRN

Well, I am new to the Hosta Forum. They have been a passion for 38 years, though I was never bitten with the chad bug until about 10 years ago, being happy to grow about 15-20 varieties along with a lot of volunteer seedlings. I now have 100 or so varieties scattered over a large area. I have been wondering if there is a late word about a new edition of the Hosta Handbook coming out soon.

Vic B

I am relatively new to this site although I did post a few short questions last summer. This is my favorite site to read. It has been my survival all winter since I am in Zone3.
There is no end to what you can learn from the experts that post on here. I am up to about 130 cultivars now and growing!!!

Welcome to the Hosta Forum, Vic. Link below to previous thread with information about book. If ordering any hosta this spring, check with your supplier. I've ordered one thru local Hosta Society in MN and expecting it early April.

Paul

Here is a link that might be useful: Zilis Book Thread

Sometime lurker, posted a couple of times. Lots of great info pics, and Hostaholics here!

I'm in the Nursery biz, more of a Tree/Shrub guy. I usually won't join any club that would have me for a member, but I joined the Northen Illinois Hosta Society (I think that's what I joined) when attending the Winter Scientific Meeting this January. Any of you Illinois (or Minnesota!) hosta crazys reading this, Hi from Dave!

I am new. We just bought our first house last year. We remodeled indoors last year and this year we are getting the outside looking good. We just ripped out our 50 year old hedges and ugly overgrown evergreens and am looking forward to starting fresh. I am a California native and love the tropical look so I'm starting a few hostas and hope to divid and keep adding. I'd love tips on what plants can give me that tropical look and also survive winter.

welcome to the neighborhoos tikigardner!!! where are you so we can give whatever suggestions we might think of? I'm in zone 4a (NWIA).

Welcome Tiki - a couple in pic below - Fingerleaf Rodgersia( Rodgersia Aesculifolia) with palmate leaves in Upper Center, also Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis) in lower center I think might fit. Might Look up Ligularia Japonica also.

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You might be better off starting a fresh Message/Thread.

Paul

Thank you so much I'll be looking into these. I've also been posting on the tropical forum.