I see why you love those 10! (Great collage - I'm not that computer literate!!).
I haven't taken this year's 'year book photos', but when I do, Liberty and Great Expectations will certainly be in my top 10 too.
Thanks for this thread - I'm sure there will be some spectacular responses.
Jan

Great pictures and list of plants.. It LEAVES me wanting to climb thru the window of your picture and check them out closer ;)

My spring favorites this year are:

Great Expectations - color and pattern of the leaves
First Frost - beautiful yellow edge in spring
Guacamole - great grower
Earth Angel - love those large leaves
Paul's Glory - what's not to love?
Goodness Gracious - impressed with the thickness of its leaves, size of the leaves and beauty
Feather Boa - nice and bright and cute
Fire Island - its spring color is to die for - wow
Brother Stefan - deep corrugation makes it look interesting
Touch of Class - great blue with a splash of yellow, really special

I wasn't sure at first what would make my top 10, but then thought about which hostas I took the most pictures of. And there you have it. Sorry no pictures to post at this time, (not as organized as you), but I am planning to post some of mine soon.

Great pictures Paul. I only own two out of your ten. I will have to look into those others.

Thanks for the nice pics... I don't have Nancy or Color Festival or Blue Hawaii... but the other seven are all great in my garden as well.

Your Pistache is larger than mine... did you get that one the same time I got mine, back in 2010? I think that's the first year Naylor listed it...

Walked around the garden with a good hosta man on Saturday. He is particularly fond of the blues and that made me notice that one of the benefits of our very late spring and lack of sun recently is some very good blues this year. Also, of course, makes it enjoyable to see the early bright yellows. Fire Island is just glowing.

(speaking of bright... since you were at my garden, Joshua's Banner showed up. One tiny eye, two leaves, over a dozen years in the ground in the same spot. I'd say forget it ;-) )

Edited by idiothe: at this point I warned paul about Garden Treasure because it gets so big. That was an error. I was actually confusing Garden PARTY - which is huge... with Garden Treasue, which is a medium. Sorry... brain just slipped a cog on that one...

This post was edited by idiothe on Tue, Jun 18, 13 at 23:41

Jim, yes I got Pistache from you in 2010. Leaves bumped up in size a bit this year and added bumples last year. I have it planted at base of an oak, if it gets the size of Spilt Milk, I may have to move it. But with the lighter center, I'm guessing it will be smaller.

Hopefully I've left enough room for Garden Treasure. It's in front of a Hydrangea and enough room for 4' wide any bigger and it will just drift into the path a bit.

Paul

Jan, June is normally the month I take lots of pics, but with late spring may get to take some in July this year. Collage was thru Picasa3 - very easy to use and price is right.

NHL, Goodness Gracious has come on nice for me, and Earth Angel will likely be a favorite later as it catches up.

Leafwatcher, I know what you mean. Sometimes I see a pic and want to look farther left or right than the picture shows.

Paul

(removed test photo)

Paul

This post was edited by paul_in_mn on Thu, Jun 13, 13 at 7:25

Paul, I am almost entirely on Flickr now.
I have an app for Android on my smartphone, and on my Android tablet. With the phone, it is almost too easy to upload direct from the photo when I snap it.

Then, I have Paint Shop Pro X4 (14) where I do all my tagging and putting names on the photos. It too has a direct way of clicking to send multiple photos (or just one) to Flickr, Facebook, and perhaps Picasa....don't remember because I don't use it. And, it lets me choose the album or "set" to put the photos in. Makes life a lot easier to see the large image as I'm selecting the ones to upload.

Did your test of Flickr reveal anything interesting?

I had signed up with Flickr in December, but never did anything with it at the time. Then reexamined recently, but couldn't find html codes to insert. Finally had to delete all the Flickr cookies and then html code showed up. Upload is easier as it grabs my titles from Picasa3. Not sure on pic quality - when PB is back in July I'll try a couple of direct comparisons.

(removed 2nd test photo)

Paul

This post was edited by paul_in_mn on Thu, Jun 13, 13 at 7:27

Beautiful photos, Paul. . .thanks for sharing!

Paul, I did not pay close attention the the recent email Flickr sent me about the photos being uploaded at original size, and you are free to keep them that way, or choose to use other sizes. And, there was some mention about the free account having 7 gig of storage space. So, if you check into the Flickr options, make sure your settings say the size you wish to have.

On my computer, I have an app I got direct from Flickr, FLICKR UPLOADR, but for Android phone and tablet, I went to the Google Play store and found another free one.

Also, I discovered that I could upload to Flickr straight from my Paint Shop Pro x4 software, either one at a time, or multiples.

Outstanding show Paul !!! Thank you for starting this thread. Been watching it for a while now and I’m surprised more people haven’t chimed in. These are usually some of the best enabling threads.

Think I’ll stir the pot and throw some of mine in. We all know I love any excuse to link pics. :)

Unfortunately, I do not have the mature specimens you do, so bear with my younglings.

Without further ado,

Ludi

1. Half and Half . The colors on this guy are very distinct, and they start off that way from the moment it emerges. The leaf shape and size are also complimentary to the variegation. It has a somewhat upright, layered form and the leaves are rigid . . . good substance.

2. Bridal Falls . Being the progeny of Niagara Falls it is destined to be amazing. I have never seen a NF I wasn’t impressed with . . . add a white border to it and what’s not to swoon about ? I ordered mine as soon as I knew it existed.

3. Rare Breed . I love how each leaf pattern is different, yet there is no streaking. With that many colors on one leaf you never know what it will look like upon emerging. I anticipate this one will keep me guessing for years to come. It will be fun to watch grow up.

4. Avocado . Like big puffy balloons, I am enjoying the leaf shape the most on him. I also like how the colors are soft and don’t distract you too much from the overall shape of the plant.

5. Goodness Gracious . My Goodness INDEED !!! I looooveee the color on this one. The narrow, tidy centers help guide your eye, so much so that you almost miss the subtle rippling along the edges.

6. Cascades . An oldie but one of the best, IMO. This one doesn’t need showy words, it does all the work itself . . . simply gorgeous !!!

7. Forbidden Fruit . Everyone raves about Orange Marmalade, but I confess I much prefer the thicker rounder leaves of its tetraploid. The colors are all there as with OM, but it feels more substantial with wider margins. Again, my opinion. :)

8. Regal Supreme . The colors on this one are mysterious. It isn’t quite blue and it isn’t quite cream. Over time the margins fade to white, but the center color is more of a gray/green. The upright form gives it a very nice fountain effect (although you can’t see that from my pic).

9. Radiant Star . A charming little hosta. The colors are brilliant and the central splash of green is intriguing. It looks like someone threw a tiny gallon of paint against the leaves.

Did I mention it was as bright as a star . . . sorry, couldn’t help myself :p

10. Hudson Bay . Here I go again with the tri-tones . . . but how can you not love three distinct colors on a leaf ? Especially, when one of them is blue !

Ludi, the colors on those hosta are amazing - nice choices.

Paul

Ludi, I have to agree with you about the Half And Half, one of my dependable favorites. Take a look at Pathfinder as well.
Both of mine are together here

Summer Music

Avocado....yes indeed, it is becoming a commanding presence in the garden. I moved it out separately to keep the plant in symmetrical shape

Marilyn Monroe is coming on strong this year, with such delicate coloring of the petioles and a wavy flip of the leaf

Smooth Sailing has to be one of my best performers...and it's gold to boot. Here it is on the right with others (I like them all) such as August Moon, Midas Touch, Rich Uncle, and Sugar And Cream. Major players, every one of them

Goodness Gracious is behind Rosedale Golden Goose here, in another cluster of golden hosta, including Yesterday's Memories and Sunny Disposition. In shade here, they glow when the afternoon sun hits them

Paradise Sunshine is holding its own beside Sagae and Liberty, so it has to be strong. This taken a month ago, and it is even better now but this is my latest Flickr foto.

Without a doubt, Sagae is a performer of merit in MOST gardens, given half a chance. Here is mine.
{{gwi:1014435}}

I'd like to show you Living Water beside Mardi Gras, but will save it for a later post. Both are new ones, fragrant as well.

Twist of Lime....small, and covered with flower scapes

Did not have this on Flickr yet, so will share via GWeb uploader

A new fragrant : LIVING WATER beside an Olga, MARDI GRAS.
Stand outs in the shady garden. It began with a creamy edge and now is as white as snow.

Boy oh boy. Picking ten was hard! But here we go...In no particular order...
1. BLUE HAWAII-So far, the bluest hosta I have, and love it's upright growth.
2. FORTUNEI AUREOMARGINATA-My first-ever hosta; Has improved greatly every year and love that the gold margins hold their color so well all season.
3. FRIED BANANAS-Beautiful yellow/gold in summer and extremely vigorous. And it's fragrant.
4. LAKESIDE KALEIDOSCOPE-Beautiful clump of gorgeous variegation; Best five bucks I ever spent!
5. SPRING FLING-Love the rippled edges and overall growth in form and color. One of my very favorites.
6. GUACAMOLE-The leaf colors and patterns are subtle but blend together so wonderfully that, combined with issue-free growth, vigor and a strongly-fragrant flower, it makes for one of the nicest cultivars ever.
7. BIG DADDY-A pretty blue-green hue and super-cupped leaves. Great substance.
8. ROYAL TAPESTRY-Sprang from a cute little fella last season to a stunning young plant with HUGE leaves on arcing scapes.
9. CHRISTMAS TREE-The difference between pictures and the real thing was stunning to me. I love everything about this plant: Substance, color, growing fast for me, and the uncommon pyramidal growth form is beautiful.
10. SPARTACUS-Wow!!! That's all I got for it right now!

Great thread, Paul!

Don B.

LOL Ask us again in a month, Paul, and these lists might be a bit different : )

I can't do it, can't pick just ten. Oh, alright I'll try...

1. Blue Angel, because it was my first purchased hosta, it is mature and huge, graceful cascading leaves, blue color, blooms not too tall.

2. Regal Splendor, vase shaped, another large one, slight ripple to the leaves, creamy margin. Elegant.

3. Elegans, Corrugation, commanding presence, new last year for me, but I can see the potential already.

4. Winter Snow, also new last year, but love the color and the shape of the leaves. Graceful even though it will be another large one.

5. Lakeside Paisley Print, center varigated, each leaf unique.

6. Touch of Class, very blue with a thin gold center, thick substance, neat mound.

7. Halcyon, classic, blue, mature and huge in my garden.

8. Great Expectations, bright accent in a shady part of the garden, corrugated and varigated, love it.

9. Lakeside Shore Master, another center varigated, blue edged,

10. Praying Hands, 3 years old, and finally growing this year after I put it in a pot. I like the unique shape and the dark green.

Ask me in an hour and I'll have a different list because I really love them all!

I'm adding a correction here. I mixed up two hostas. My comments on Garden Treasures size were incorrect. I got it mixed up in my mind with Garden Party. GP gets huge relatively fast. GT is a slower grower to a medium size.

Hope anybody who might be lead astray by my comments early in the thread will read all the way down to this correction!

Jim (Idiothe).....
it is now possible to EDIT THE TEXT OF YOUR PREVIOUS POSTS. You somehow click on it and since you created it, the POST A FOLLOW UP shows the post and you delete or change what you like. If I were you, I'd also refer to a correction made and the date so someone can find your update. Nice feature now possible.

For instance, I am now editing this post to include mention of the EDIT spot, located in each post up where the CLIPPINGS are. It says "New....EDIT POST" and there you go...

This post was edited by moccasinlanding on Tue, Jun 18, 13 at 15:09

Regal Splendor, Praying hands, Sagae, Paul's Glory, Stained Glass, Paradigm (favorite this year) GE, Lakeside Cha Cha, Liberty, and Blue Angel are my 10 favorites this year. All growing well and looking great.

Wow, looks like a hosta catalog from Aristoscapes Hosta (a company which I just invented, so don't look for it on the interwebs). Gorgeous, gorgeous plants, y'all!

I love looking at the pics of gorgeous hosta! I have to make sure I grab my pen and paper...

Paula, I sit here at the computer and have pieces of paper with exotic names written on them, the back of bills, my birthday cards, my old prescriptions, yada yada. Periodically, I purge it. Either I "Love it or list it." I order it or I file it away for another lifetime. When one name keeps turning up, that indicates ORDER is not far away.

However, I believe I've reached my zenith with this last spate of orders. More later about what. I saw today a ga-zillion seed pods on the few hosta already bloomed for the year. What if.....what if they ALL GREW? hehehehehe And when the fragrants bloom, they all made fat seed pods too?.....mmmmm

What a great possibility to think on.