Thanks Anna. I went on Dave's and at first I thought it was not the plant. But the more I looked into the more I am convinced it is. This plant AND the clerodenrum AND the Monkey Ear tree are all bad. The basket plant an monkey ears are on this list: The Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) has urged FloridaÂs nursery and landscape industry to stop production, sale and use of the following plants that are widely recognized to be invasive in natural areas. FNGLA also urges gardeners and consumers to consider alternatives to these plants. Here are the plant species on the "do not sell" list released in 2001by the Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association. The clerodendrm is not on an invasive list as far as I can tell but I have read several reviews that claim it is one of those cleredendrum that will sucker like crazy and take over. Too bad about both the basket plant and the clerodendrum as they are very pretty. But I have learned - I put both the Bridal Dombeya and the Mexican Petunia in my yard and I am having a heck of a time getting rid of them! Thanks, Anita

I wish that Blue Stone Perennials were in Canada...oh well...they did have some heuchera that I don't have here.... LinBar, I don't mind at all that you posted on the Far North. I also love heuchera!!! I would love to see your list of heuchera. I am slowly putting together a powerpoint presentation on heuchera for presenting at gardening events. Lots of info out there for heuchera! The internet is a wonderful source of info. Here is a list of heuchera that have overwintered at least one winter for me on my Canadian zone 2b acreage.... Amethyst Mist Arctic Mist Blackout Brandon Pink Bressingham Hybrids Caramel Cherry Jubilee Chocolate Ruffles Crimson Curls Dale's Strain Dark Secret Dolce Blackcurrant Dr. Sitars Strain Firefly Georgia Peach Harvest Lemon Chiffon Licorice Marmalade Midnight Rose Molly Bush Palace Purple Peach Flambe Peppermint Spice Petite Pewter Veil Plum Pudding Purple Petticoats Regina Ruby Mist Silver Indiana Sparkling Burgundy Stormy Seas Strawberry Swirl Velvet Night Venus and, an unnamed yellow heuchera with green leaves.... These heuchera are new to me this year and I am hoping that they will also prove hardy for me... Autumn Haze Beaujolais Beauty Colour Can Can Cinnabar Silver Dolce Peach Melba Mars Miracle Pewter Moon Silver Scrolls Tiramisu I love the colorful leaves and the small dainty flowers of the heuchera. Brenda

Further to Kay's note--I've ordered a lot from Marietta and never been displeased. This particular year, I mentioned that the dls I was buying were actually for a bed for a friend who's been fighting lymphoma all year. They sent super plants (which I had already expected) and included some tremendous bonus plants (which I had not expected). Even absent such generosity, I'd still keep them close at hand--the Shooters' diploids include interesting genes and very diverse looks and their general catalog is HUGE and (mostly) reasonably priced. Goldcoast: FANTASTIC plants. And I can't express how wonderful the Holley's are--gracious, conscientious and generous as any out there. I buy from them when I really want a nice-sized clump rather than just a fan or two of something and they've never let me down. (And sometimes I buy from them just because I want to buy something--don't look at me like that: many in this forum are guilty of this "flaw" :-P ) Looking at all the great comments directed at Maryott's, I'm thinking I need to buy from them this upcoming year as well.

Hi Fellow Hostaholics, I've been watching this thread for the last couple of weeks since Patty contacted me about it's existence....thanks Patty. My partner (Yvon) and I are the new owners of Hosta Choice Gardens in Appin, Ontario. I thought I should post some information about what is happening with the business so that there is no need for rumours...hopefully just excitement. We purchased the business, property and home on August 18th of this year. We have been working with the daughters of the late owners, Udo and Margot Dargatz, since January to ensure that their parent's legacy did not fade. The daughters turned down many offers on the property because the interested parties did not want to continue with the business or wanted to re-name it. Yvon and I listed our home in Victoria, B.C. and after selling we started the long process of buying the business you all know as Hosta Choice Gardens. It was a long process but Susan and Karen (Udo and Margot's daughters) wanted us to have the business as they felt that we were the best one's to continue their parent's dreams. We are for ever grateful to them for their patience and cooperation in putting everything together and working with us thru the transition. Yvon and I are no where near as knowledgeable as the Udo and Margot were but we hope that after a year or so in the business we will have about a quarter of the knowledge they had.. LOL. If we cannot answer a question that you have... we will take the time to do some research and get back to you with an answer. The Canadian Hosta community lost a valuable source of knowledge when Udo and Margot passed but thanks to their daughters the community did not lose Hosta Choice and it's great display gardens. Our promise to all of you is to continue the upkeep of the beautiful display gardens and to offer the most up-to-date selection of hostas in Canada. No more looking at the USA websites and dreaming....were going to try to keep up with new introductions and, when they become available, we will try to get them in for Canadians. If you have a certain hosta in mind that we do not have then we will search out our sources and try our best to get it in for you. If we can't get the hosta for you, but we have one in the display beds, we will put your name down on a waiting list for a division of the display plant. All display plants will be tested for the HXV virus prior to dividing. All of our greenhouse stock will be brought in from suppliers that have tested their parent plants for HXV and other diseases know to effect Hostas. No retailer/supplier, including Hosta Choice Gardens, can offer you a 100% guarantee that their hostas are HXV free but we will do our best in trying to ensure the plants we sell are indeed HXV free. When Hosta Choice Gardens closed at the end of 2007 all the existing greenhouse stock was sold out. Our 2009 stock will be all new plants, and although they may not be over-sized, they will be healthy good sized retail ready plants. Inventory that is not ready to go will be posted clearly stating a date that we will start releasing the plants for retail or mail order sales. We will reserve upcoming releases if your willing to wait until they are ready to go(if a deposit is required we will clearly state it). The current display gardens did take a beating this year as it was hard for the Dargatz's daughters to travel from the Niagara region to weed and water. They were able to get some staff in, on a number of occasions, but it's always a battle trying to beat weed germination. We are hoping to get things cleaned up before the snow flies so that we are ready for you in May 2009. We will also be working to expand the gardens to work my collection of 800 different named hostas into the existing collection (only about 300 of my hostas match existing display garden plants). We hope to have the largest collection of 'Lakeside' cultivars on display in Canada. To finish this posting I'd like to extend to each of you an invitation to our opening on Saturday May 9/09. Come view the display gardens and help us celebrate the lifes of Udo and Margot Dargatz with the unveiling of a new hosta garden in their names. After the unveiling we would be grateful if you would join us for a bbq and live entertainment. Further details will be posted when our new website comes on-line January 15/09. Hosta-la-vista ....for now, Glenn Wilson Yvon Trepanier