Where did you get Fran Godfrey, I collect Sum & Substance sports. I really like your Fran Godrey! I love the pairing. You should take a picture of Fran and submit it to the Hosta Library. The ones they have there are only 2 and 3 leaves. Gesila

overwatering, too "heavy" a soil mix, planting too deep... and and all could be the culprits. Since the plant that is still in the ground probably has an open wound, or young calous, you might improve its chances of surviving winter by dusting with a little fungicide. But take a look at it - if the crown isn't up at the surface with the soil slanting away from it a little - I'd raise it. Often when this has happened to one of mine in the garden - or more often in a pot - I've found that the hosta has sunk a little so when watered, it ends up sitting in a little private pond area, which encourages rot and dismemberment of the crown. BTW - I've grown some EW... I think it is 30 now... in pots and in the garden and I've found it to actually be a pretty sturdy hosta... which just makes me even more suspicious that it is too deep and in soil that is too heavy...

I would echo the caution as to size. I would suggest you look up the estimated size of each hosta and then plot out what your beds will look like in a year or two. I have just spent some time moving a lot of hostas out of a bed that is just 2 years old. They looked like many "wave" designs I have seen but some hosta were crowding out and even "eating up" some of the smaller hosta. I now find I prefer having individual plants allowed them to show their full form. I am thinking you have planted each hosta wih equal spacing disregarding the fact that they have very different mature sizes as others have noted. The bed I have created for my Empress is 7 feet by 7 feet to accomodate what I hope will be a 5 foot by 5 foot footprint for the Emoress itself and allownace for the Emerald Green Arbovitae and whirlwing hostas I have planted as a "throne" Even taking a mature size of at least 4 foot by 4 foot by 4 foot, I think the Empress will swallow a lot of your adjoining hostas. See if you can convince Myrle to do a plot plan with the mature sizes. I think you will find you have enough plants to spread to different areas, maybe double the size, depending on your taste for spacing. Photos of the hosta in each location even spread out on a table will give an idea of how they will look shortly. Swithch them around and see what appeals to you. If Myrle can do a photoshop composition you would have a "look into the future" which I hope you would share. I am writing this having done the very same thing I critique, so I hope you take this as constructive criticism. I admire your enthusiasm and know you will make it work and it will look fantastic. I just hope to give you the advantage of learning from my mistakes without have to experience them yourself. Jon

I've grown various Colocasia for many years. There is actually one larger it is Colocasia gigantea Thai Giant. Ordered one last month-very tiny but already have had to pot up from a 4 inch pot to an 8 inch in less than a month. It is a strain discovered by a former researcher for PDN. Leaves easily attain a length of 6ft by 4ft and grows up to 9ft tall. With Colocasias to attain the big size just add lots of water,sun and food. The great thing about them is if you don't have the room inside for them stop watering and they go dormant for winter and can be stored in a cool dark place till next year. Ordered mine from Wellspring Gardens on Ebay. Their small for $4.99 but they grow fast. Look at Black Magic and Mojito too if your interested. I'll be posting pics in the Aroid forum next week and then monthly to show Thai Giant's growth. Scott