Jim, thanks for taking time to walk the grounds with us today it was a pleasure to meet you and Sheila and see your wonderful gardens. I'd encourage you to take Jim up his offer. I also picked up several hosta and other perennials at "Unreasonably Low Prices". (from Jim's email) Paul

I'm a second season gardener with a newby question. There are lots of seasoned & experienced gardeners on this and other forums here at GW. As a newb, you mostly can't go wrong following the cautionary advice of folks with more hosta garden experience. If you value it, protect it. That might be a good mantra to follow until you've got some experience under your belt. Gardeners are risk takers every time they shove a spade into the soil but experienced gardeners take a moment to consider other factors before shoving that spade into the soil. I know what my specific climate here in southern New England can throw at me & my plants. Do you? At what temp should I plant these potted beauties? Plants grown in temperature-controlled nursery/hothouse conditions are generally unprepared for outdoor weather conditions/extremes. If you decide to plant them out, keep a close eye on them and take steps to protect them until they're strong enough to fend for themselves. Once established, hostas are tough as nails. Remember--once the roots have taken hold, it's tough to get rid of them. I've got one or two that have dwindled since I planted them. They're the exception, not the rule.

Great Haul! I hope you have lots of space because you have got some great big gorgeous ones there.... Leading Lady in my garden is downright amazonian! LOL! SHe is a biiiiiiiiig girl. Good luck with all of them! Alexa

I might as well join the list. I don't have many hostas yet but I think that will change soon. I will finally have some gardening area with shade and I'm chomping at the bit to get some hostas planted as soon as it is ready to plant. Screen Name............Real Name..........City......................................Email (if you want) ThisIsMelissa..........Melissa............Lakeville..........................ThisIsMelissa@hotmail.com jel48........................Joyce................Owatonna (moved?) teresa_mn................Teresa...............Minnetonka dentaybow...............Jan.................... arcy..................................................Hutchinson Klas8405.................Karla...............NW Anoka County Lynnda.............................................N. St. Paul andi3216..........................................Mounds View rubybaby43..............Kristy..............Ramsey esox48.............................................Apple Valley AppleBrownDebbie..........................Little Falls GardenGal101...........Heather...........Edina JenLaurel..........................................St. Michael maidofshade..............Cheryl............Silver Lake andi_mn...................Andi.................Red Wing cjlars..................................................Pennock diggetydig.........................................Clear Lake hostaholic2..............Joyce..................Hutchinson PutnamGardens.........Lisa.................St. Paul tscbcowboy.......................................Apple Valley duluthinbloomz4........Sue.................Duluth just_one_more...........Mike..............Minneapolis (Lake Nokomis) missy23...........................................Linwood/Wyoming phyllis__mn.....................................North Central MN HappyInTheGarden...Mary..............Apple Valley loisf...........................Lois...............Orono (western Mpls. suburb) Paul_in_MN...............Paul...............Maplewood lillyann70...............Cheryl................Ramsey, Mn firethorn................Sarah.................Lino Lakes chevy57................Sheila..............Pine City jennaj_z4mn..............Jenna.................Hanover greenthumbz4mn........mary...............White Bear Lake, MN regattagirl..................Lisa...................Plymouth, MN hockeychik..............Sue..............St. Michael