Keeping records of my hosta collection

17 years ago

HI Hostalovers,

Collecting hostas is a lot of fun! Being an hostaholic is a lot of fun!.....going outside on a daily basis to see and admire your hosta collection is a lot of fun! I have started like anybody else by saying to myself that I would limit myself to no more than 100 different kinds...at the most.. ..then I pledged not to go beyond 300 max.... Unfortunately, I have had this 'sickness' for 5 years now and my collection presently totals 557 different named hosta varieties and a total of 880 hostas in my yard. Now that's a lot...for me anyway...being retired and not getting any younger....Beginning this year, I'm taking it more easy....

In order for me to keep and maintain control over my hosta collection, I found it necessary to organize my photos and garden sketches in files on my computer so that I would have a pretty good idea where everything is and how they have developed over the years...and are still improving in size and beauty as they mature. Using Word I have a folder for each hosta variety detailing its characteristics. I also use Excel spreadsheets listing my hosta inventory each year, entering also the size and eyes of each hosta variety on a yearly basis.

Most importantly, I am using Microsoft Access to enter pertinent information on all my hostas. This is my most effecient tool where I can obtain countless numbers of combinations and permutations. I am showing hereafter the way I have setup my hosta database hoping that this may enlighten and help other hostalovers that possess a reasonable knowledge of these software programs. You will notice that some holes have no info, so I would appreciate your help to fill in those 'holes'.

I have copied what is written above from my website where I added a new topic entitled ACCESS DATABASE - SPECIAL PROJECT 2007. There is a lot of information that may help some of you guys...especially if you are a newbie...

If interested please click on the link below. Here's an example of what you will see and read:

Papou

Here is a link that might be useful: Papou's Hosta Database

Comments (24)

greenguy
17 years ago
I don't know how you do it. I have a hard enough time just keeping up with planting, watering and weeding.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
key word ... RETIRED .... lol .... ken

PS: pappy ... yeah right.. this is the year you will cut back on acquisition ... like we all will .... lol
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Jan-again I began like you. I have some artistic ability so I purchased a small sketch book. On page 1 I sketched a garden. Then I numbered each page and developed an index which was on page 2. Each hosta was given a numeric ID and a page number. Then I drew in pen and ink and coloed in pencil. This was befoe I had a camera. Too much info to keep up this way. Plus a daughter gave me a digital camera for Christmas. I still used the numeric listing with an alpha cross reference. Eventually, tired of creating new data sheets manually for each hosta or change in their development, i simply made my own spread sheet suing college lined paper and making my own lined columnns. One of these template created "spread sheets" listed all of my hosta numerically and for each as much standardized info I could find such as mound height, width, leaf length, width, vein pairs, scape height, bloom color and comments. I used blank templates to generate the corresponding info on my own plants. In this manner I uncovered about 5 of my 30 plants at the time were mislabeled by the retailer or growers staff. If kwn wants to trust those little tags that come with the plant, that is his choice but I am like you, I find more fun adding fussing over my hostas than just doing yardwork and saying "Ooo-isn't that pretty". You have to forgive ken-he consistently is who he is!". When I became minimally proficient in usong ms Excell I created a computer generated template the same as my hand drawn one. When my body clock tells me it is time to go out into my gardens with measuringg tape, clipboard, gauge strip for pics, and camera I simply print out some empty sheets and have at it. I love it all - so ther ken! Enjoy. It really is a painless experience. Ir ia nor likwly I will ever become as proficient with the camera as many of the peeps here at Hosta Forum but it will be fun working at it. You probably will also, if your attitude reflects you desire. enjoy everything you can - Les ps: I keep an annual log which lists my purchases and memorial services (lol) when I bury one in my compost "cemetery". Ken just throws his on his driveway (lol)
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
i forgot to mention ... the older cultivars... e.g. abby, big boy etc .... might be covered in the original schmid tome ... in the big section in the back ....

good luck

ken
sidney1515
17 years ago
WOW! Nice job!

Cut back on your acquistions? hohohohoho
I have found a way around that part. I'm not making that promise till all my mail ordering is done. . .less guilt for the rest of the year that way. . lol

Sidney
bunnycat
17 years ago
Outstanding! So much better than my 4x6 index cards. (snicker)
~Bunnycat
greenguy
17 years ago
Yea cut back lol I remember when you said you would be finished buying hostas how long ago was that three years lol

you know you have to get that new one and the other you have been thing about for awhile and the one that was hard to get and ............................
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
So true, Greenbuy and Sydney...I admit...I AM AN HOSTAHOLIC!!
This time however...it's my DW that is putting a stop to my fouly. She thinks I'm going overboard....well...we'll see...

Ken, Thanks for the tip re. Schimdt Book.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
17 years ago
'going overboard'??????

that happened long ago .. i think she is throwing you a life jacket.. grab hold.. you DONT need them all .... ken
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
Ken...you're my man! LOL...

I shall obey DW Therese...as a good hubby should do! HOWEVER, if ever in the future she comes to me saying: "Oh, honey, I just saw the most beautiful hosta..we dont have it...will you buy it???...then I shall stand firm and answer: NO!! If she insists, I shall say again: NO!!...and if she insist a third time, I shall say to my beloved wife: "Well, perhaps..."

Papou
maidofshade
17 years ago
Nice job. I am trying to do this too but can see myself getting behind as the weather warms up. Once again you are the well organized hosta man!! I just love looking at your website but have to watch out for temptation when it comes to seeing plants in person. I am trying to be good but there are just too many beautiful well grown plants to inspire purchasing more and more. It sounds like your wife just may have some hosta blood in her too. Are you sure you will say NO twice before giving in???????
creature
17 years ago
I, too, keep a much smaller record. But one thing that I include is when it starts to come up.
greenguy
17 years ago
ken i never thought i would hear such words from you
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
maidofshade, You say it correctly: there are so many new hostas out there....and like Ken says: "You dont have to get them all"...as for me, I only buy the "must have" ones....the rest is history....-:)
I went back to school 3 years ago to improve my knowledge of Microsoft Access....it takes a very long time to enter the data in Accessm but once it is done, it's well worth the effort and time.

I may add here that my digital camera has become an indispensable tool. I take hundreds of pics each year and the good news is that it costs nothing....if I don't like a photo, I simply delete it. Lately, I have made a folder of my best shots during 2006...burned approx. 800 pics on a DVD-CD. Once in a while I put that CD in my DVD Player and watch the slideshow directly on the TV screen. Not only is this satisfying to me, but it also help me memorizing the characteristics of my hostas.

Papou
blacky1
17 years ago
You're unreal Papou, but I love it. So many great ideas about naming hostas and keeping a journal. Is Microsoft Assess and bundle by itself or does it come with something else? I currently have Microsoft Works and I'm thinking of upgrading to Office.

Lynne
User
17 years ago
WOW. The database is impressive...and I thought I was doing a good job with my MS Excel spreadsheet which holds a lot of the same information and some parentage/hybridizer info. However I cannot really manipulate the info the way you can Papou. Nice Job!
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
Lynne, If you upgrade to Office XP, everything is in there...Word...Excel....Access...Publisher...and lots more.
Hostabuff, I encourage you to try Access. I used to limit myself to Word and Excel...thinking that Access was beyond comprehension...you know what?....if you can manipulate Excel, you can work with Access...and you dont need to follow a special course...go to Help and it tells you what to do...
Give it a try! If you do and need help, please email me and I shall be glad to help you.

Papou
mctavish6
17 years ago
papou, your organizational skill are inspiring. You must be a virgo or have strong virgo influence! I have not a drop of virgo unfortunately. I suppose it's made up for somewhere else - ha! I think if you have grass, you have room. I intend to widen the garden around my lawn (and cut down on the lawn) this year. This will be about 6-12 inches surrounding a 10 x10 lawn. As the lawn gets smaller, I will want only to be able to put 2 chairs there and smell the grass when I cut it. McT
User
17 years ago
As I scrutinized each of my little seedlings...waiting for some characteristic to pop out that I can't see now, I was thinking...the Access database could be very helpful in the hybridizing process...
Lykaon - Ohio Zone 6a
17 years ago
Access has tons of 'Wizards' that can help you along as you are learning. You can pull something off like Papau's database with only minimal self-training and the use of the help sections.
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
Lykaon78, Thank you for email invitation. I'm putting your name in my "Resource Persons" file. It's good to know that you use Access in your professional life. I still have to know more about the Queries...and how you do it. Right now, I limit myself to the binocular on the top toolbar.

Papou
megaul
17 years ago
papou,

You are, have been, and continue to be, an inspiration here in Hostadom.

Your organizational skills and photography are legendary in my hosta mind. I aspire to be a fraction as knowledgeable and talented as you.

Thank you and please continue. We need you expertise.

:-)Marsha
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
Marsha, Thanks for your compliments....Hey dont forget to enter your top 10 favorite hostas on my other post. The survey is going real well...and is being done at the same time as a similar survey on Hallsons Gardens (Chris Wilson website).

Papou
hagey
17 years ago
Papou,
We like your version of record keeping. We have a similiar one but not as much info and I have some questions on the way we set ours up. I would like to ask some questions and wondered if I could e-mail them to you? We have recently lost some of the XP and were told we needed to replace it. We wondered if perhaps you would tell us what we need to buy as Ron wondered if our Microsoft XP is what we need or replace it with an updated version?
We have 770 varieties of hostas listed on spreadsheet but it will not print on landscape. We tried to save it to a disk and it will not let us do that. That is why the repair people told us to rerun the XP. We are not at home until after next weekend, and our disk is at home.
Your help will be greatly appreciated. Betty
papou
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Betty,
First of all, your platform Windows XP SP2 is just fine. Windows Vista just came out but I would not buy it yet as it may have a lot of bugs...wait a bit...at least this is what I'm going to do befor switching to Windows Vista.
More importantly is your Office package. From Office 97, I have upgraded to Office 2000, and last year to the latest Office XP.That seems to work fine with me.
You have a lot of hostas. WOW!! 770 is a lot. It may be that you have reached over the limit that your blank CD can handle. Let's pursue this privately if you dont mind. My email is ghislain@hawk.igs.net
The last CD that I burned took 550megs. If we exchange coordinates, we could possible send each other our CD backups. Hoping to hear from you.

Ghislain Seguin (Papou on Garden Web)

Keeping records of my hosta collection

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