Like a kid in a candy store

11 years ago

Did a little shopping today at a wonderful local garden center. Being somewhat new to hostas and after looking at the gorgeous gardens posted here, it was hard to restrain myself. I already had Elegans, Guacamole, American Halo, Frances William, August Moon and some type of Marginata(?).

Today I picked up Fanfare, Wheee, Blue Mouse Ears and Praying Hands, as well as a couple of Heucheras (Crimson Curls and Key Lime Pie).

Would anyone care to comment on my choices-anything good, bad or indifferent I should know?

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Comments (12)

frostynyc
11 years ago
I hate Frances Williams, but that was already in your collection.

Your selections look good. Praying Hands is a weird one, but I think that one looks good potted. Regarding Fanfare, do you mean Shade Fanfare?
lavenderlver
Original Author
11 years ago
Yep, Shade Fanfare, interesting coloring on that one.
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HostaEdz5
11 years ago
Blue Mouse Ears is one of my favorite Hosta. Probably the nicest mini Hosta out tere in my opinion. Hosta Guacamole grows like a weed in my yard. Sounds like you have a good start going.

Ed
timhensley
11 years ago
The real Frances Williams always suffers from spring burn here in VT as do many of it's sports. I also have Time Tunnel and DuPage Delight both suffer terribly from burn. There are many better choices. Other than that, you are off to a nice collection. Have fun.
sally_grower
11 years ago
Please ignore the frost damage but here's what's in store with Shade Fanfare....one of my favorites, one of my oldest hostas, I bought these in 1993, you made nice choices
idiothe
11 years ago
All good choices. Shade Fanfare is an old one, and for years I wasn't too enamoured of the yellow-green center, cream-white margins look... but I've grown to appreciate a few in this color combo and Shade Fanfare is one of the old dependables. Nice inexpensive hosta.

Praying Hands - I've always grown mine in the ground, but it is in a location that sets if off. I know it has gotten into a "grow it in a pot" recommendation pattern... but it grows fine in the ground as well. The container idea is just to show off what is already a somewhat odd form. I like it a lot - not just as a novelty but as a neat kind of hosta that I hope will generate some more - maybe larger, maybe all yellow, etc.

Blue Mouse Ears deserves a spot in every hosta collection... it is something of a phenomenon... I'd never call it a mini as it will reasonably quickly grow into a nice small-hosta clump...

I quit collecting two years ago, so I missed the Wheee surge - but I think it might be a real keeper and I may have to add it. (Gardens are full and over-full, so Rule is that I have to delete two hostas from my garden for every one I add... )
User
11 years ago
Idiothe, every rule is made to be broken. Maybe just ONE plant removed instead of two? But I'm sure your garden is full of mature hosta.

Would it be possible for you to show us how a fully mature hosta garden looks? Hopefully I should live long enough to see what I presently have reach maturity--and I can remember what they are~ !!
paula_b_gardener 5b_ON
11 years ago
Frances Williams is one of my faves in my garden and lucky for me, mine has never burned.
{{gwi:1034142}}
Cricket_Love
11 years ago
I LOVE my Frances Williams! I also love my Shade Fanfare! They are both big and beautiful! I think the on'es you already had, and the ones you purchased today are great choices! As long as you are happy, that's all that really matters! ;)
lavenderlver
Original Author
11 years ago
Hosta collectors are the best, thank you for the pictures and comments!

We currently have 2 hosta gardens, the one off the back deck is long and narrow (9 x 20'ish). We laid down pavers with a fountain at the end and have hostas mixed with other perenials along the path and around the fountain.

The other garden is on the front, side of our home. A gravel path under a big oak, with a bench at the end. So far only hostas scattered in this locale (2 Guacamoles, 2 Elegans, an American Halo, a Marginata(?) and an August Moon).

For the visionaries out there;

We orginally had 2 American Halos next to each other in the back garden. I moved one to the front garden and replaced it with a Shade Fanfare (the garden center informed me it was a tri-color?). After looking at Sally's picture of her mature SF, I'm not sure the two will complement one another - any thoughts or pictures about those 2 working together? The AH in question seems to have wider than usual margins.

Paula, gorgeous FW and the Caramel Heuch works so well! My FW is currently 4 leaves :)
in ny zone5
11 years ago
I have 6 Frances Williams and like them a lot. Mature leaves really are standing out. To avoid spring burns, you should plant FW not in sun to avoid that she comes up too early in spring and then get affected by frosts. In dappled shade she does very well. But then, a lot of other hostas will get nipped by a frost.
Bernd
lavenderlver
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm totally enamored with FW, hopefully ours is in a good spot. We'll see how she does next spring!

Like a kid in a candy store

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