Prepare to DROOOL....

thisismelissa

16 years ago

I visited Tom Carlson's place today. He's the owner of HostasDirect.com. Amazing!

And yes, I did drop quite a sum on a lot of wonderful plants!

Here's the video!

Here is a link that might be useful: HostaDirect Tour 6-28-07

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Comments (10)

mary52zn8tx
16 years ago
Cool. Loved all those hostas.
Mary
Janice
16 years ago
I'm speechless! I can't fathom being around that many hosta, inground every day!
I wonder if, like working in a donut shop, you lose your taste for them eventually,
or at least your awe for them?

Thank you for sharing your experience!! Sigh!

janice
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Wow - thank you all so much! I really did design the whole kitchen using this forum for inspiration, so I feel funny taking all of the compliments - I have to give credit back to this site! :-) Circuspeanut - I'm not sure what happened with that post - I did also email you pictures when we finished the counter, but perhaps cyberspace ate them. No matter - I'm glad you like the island - wouldn't have done it without your help!!! And I think of you almost daily as I wipe it down, or look at a particularly interesting spot and think of your "crime scene" that you had in one post. As for the patina - do you have the turquoise/blue/brown areas? Or just all shades of brown? lisa_a - we decided to put the garbage disposal under the coffee bar sink rather than the main sink. We're on septic, and by putting it in the less-used sink, I have significantly cut down on using it, which is better for our system. But, yes, there would be room for a GD under there. Not a monster one, but a compact one for certain. Our builder designed it such that a GD could fit. Is there anything else you'd like to know about the pull-outs? Oh, and by the way, when this project started, I was most definitely paralyzed by the process. I couldn't even figure out where to start. So I started here, at GW, and the rest is history. :-) flowers_n_co - your dogs would NOT be a problem on the cork! And yes, we love our main sink - I can lay multiple large pans in it - FLAT! :-) 22laura - Formica Mineral Sepia in the Radiance Collection. I was mistaken that it was Wilsonart - we got it down to a Formica and a Wilsonart, and the Formica "matched" the floor the best (was least offensive with the floor????). Thank you all again - your comments are so kind, and so appreciated. When I think of all of your beautiful kitchens (those of you who are finished and whose kitchens were my inspirations), I am humbled and amazed by your kind compliments about my new space. :-)
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sassy7142
16 years ago
I'm drooling, I'm drooling.
Teresa_MN
16 years ago
I don't know if anyone has ever posted a video here before. While I've seen the gardens I enjoyed being there again without getting in my car!

Thanks Melissa!
Carole Westgaard
16 years ago
I'm in Janice's doughnut syndrome camp - never woulda thunk I'd see TOO MANY HOSTA. I guess you had to be there . . .

Thanks for going to the trouble to send the video, Melissa. I wonder what his plans are, since he's selling off his own. Maybe he'll plant a huechera or two.

Westy
hostared
16 years ago
What a great business. It's nice to see hostas sold from the ground instead of in pots. What a great video. I'm speechless also. Thanks for sharing.

Melissa what did you get there.
thisismelissa
Original Author
16 years ago
Westy, he's not selling OFF his own. He's just selling divisions. He actually told me that HostasDirect is a big enough biz now that he can almost make a living at it.

He does tissue cultures in the house and sells them from cells. Bigger plants are outside and he divides those or puts them in 3.5" pots.

My understanding is that he doesn't do this sale from his home very often.... mostly he works from his retail location, which he has closed for the season. So, at this point, I suppose he'll just sell TC's for the rest of the season.... that's just my guess anyway.

I'll tell ya though., it's a pretty amazing thing to see. So many hostas, all in 1 location... and NOT in a Botanical Garden or Arboretum! Words can't express the overwhelm. Itty bitty ones the size of your palm, and huge ones that wouldn't have fit in my Explorer!
esox48
16 years ago
It's pretty amazing. Virtually every inch of his yard, a normal-sized one, is planted with rows of hostas. I noticed a row of Junes, where some are in more sun than others, and it's very easy to see how the sun affects the color.

If you think you don't have space for more hostas, heck you have space for hundreds of them.
mareas
16 years ago
Thanks for the grand tour!! I DID drool!
hostahaveum
16 years ago
Thank for sharing ! I think I have Hostashock "syndrome" now ! LOL NICE... I wish I lived closer ,I have to do a "drive by & drool" everyday. :) ~ Dot

Prepare to DROOOL....

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Janice

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