Hi Janice... I have one... Toy Soldier. This was purchased at the hosta auction last year (do you remember?), picked out by hubby because he liked the "cool name." (That's how he picks hostas, if they have a cool name, he likes them.) I just love it now, it makes a fantastic tight clump, and slugs pretty much leave it alone. It is still unfurling, leaves/petioles haven't totally relaxed yet, but here is a pic taken today, on this brisk, windy day...

Toy Soldier 16 May 07

Buff

I bought June a few years ago because it didn't seem right to have a hosta garden without June in it. I was never impressed with it and never really understood why it's so popular until this year. Now that it's a little larger all I can say is WOW, I'm glad I have it now! (my other June however, is still boring but it's younger so maybe it will surprise me one day as well)

I was actually talked into Elvis Lives,by a nursery owner,and it was unimpressive the first year,but it gets better every year. This year,however because of the freeze,it's slooowly coming back to last years looks! Phil

I didn't care for the Halcyons I bought last year at Walmart: 2 for $5.00. I couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about this hosta.
This year has been most revealing: 2 big, beautiful, graceful, blue hostas! I love them and have been buying more of the "blues" now.
Michele

I started collecting fragrant hostas because they do well here. I got Mistress Mable last year and expected it to be similar to Emily and Austin Dickinson. I like them all, but Mistress Mable is outstanding. The mollusk army likes it too, but I finally got most of them killed, and MM is shining. The new leaves just keep getting bigger and better. The picture doesn't do it justice. It is next to Fragrant Dream which is another one I am liking.

Mine was June and Marilyn Monroe.
Also like flowersform farm it has become a favorite.
With age, at least 4 years, it will show you what it's all about.
Marilyn has started off slow but now it's beginning to show its ruffles...she'll be a beauty next year.

Another one I wasn't sure I was all that excited about but now I like it as it is maturing is "Carnival"!

I'm not a HUGE fan of most white margined or centered, although there are exceptions, but this one
maintains more of a creamy margin in my garden!

I need to get my pics downloaded and ready to post--maybe when it rains tomorrow! :o)

janice

Buff, I really like that "Toy Soldier". I've always been a fan of the big hosta, and I find my self liking some of the mini's recently.

Blue umbrellas! Here's a shot.
It was scraggly for years, but it's finally starting to look like a real hosta.

Lainey

Here is a link that might be useful:

For me it would have to be Honeybells. I got it at a time I had only a very few (Gold Standard, a green Fortuni, Golden Tiara). I thought the rounded flat look was more pleasing. I kept moving it around over the years not liking it very much. It grew anyway. Finally it was too big for where it was so I moved it to this more sunny spot. I didn't care much what happened to it you see. Now it is one of my most reliable favourites. The spot is perfect because there is a downward slope to the path and it allows it to "flow". I bought Sugar and Cream just because I liked the look of Honeybells so much.

Pretty photo McT!

I love your little groupings that are surrounded my hardscape.... very pleasing!

Alexa

My ratty old undulatas that came in one 2' clump when I got the house  now they are a fine, reliable, easy-care border all along 60' of my foundation plantings out front. A little slug bait twice in the summer, and I'm done.

And all my neighbors oooh and ahh over these, the dregs of the hosta world! That's plain old undulata, and the big green and gold girl is 'Frances Williams' on June 8, 2005 Â the border is even fluffier now. And this is only a few feet, not the whole thing:

Oh wow, Lisa! How lovely! We need to be careful about "turning up our noses" at some of the originals
for most of us! Sounds like you've gotten your money's worth out of those "less than beautiful" clumps!!

Thanks for all the pics. ya'll--and I always recognize your place before I even see your name "McT"! :O)

I hope to hear more "ugly duckling" stories of those we doubted we'd like and have come to regard as
real "beauties" eventually!

Initially, all of them.

When I bought this house 11 years ago, my friend gave me a huge clump of undulata since I ahve a shady back yard. I looked at her and asked if she was kidding - was I really supposed to plant those ugly things?

Since I became hosta aware, the ones I thought were ugly to start and have changed dramatically for the better are:

El Capitan. Used to look like any other light edged green. Now that it is 3 years old it is developing great character.

Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Boy is that a woof as a baby... love it now.

That's all I can think of for now..........

Antioch comes to mind.

My Guardian Angel is so beautiful this year. I just planted it last year and it is huge now..

Tokudoma Aureonebulosa. Got it as a gift this year, pictures didn't do a lot to me. Now I'm all over it

Olive Branch. Loved it in pictures, but it looked sickly for several years after I bought it. Glad I haven't given up on it because this year, after that late freeze, it emerged dense and very beautiful.