I'm a little north of jmcbackyarddigger I believe....

I'm Kelli from Troy (20 miles outside of St.Louis). :-)

I'm Deb in Kildeer (in NW suburbs). I have about 20 varieties. And there will be more next year ...

I am Mark. I'm in Buffalo Grove, a NW suburb of Chicago.

Hi all - I am Terry. I'm in Tremont; just a few miles from Sally in E. Peoria. I grow hostas, roses, clematis, and heuchera. How's everyone doing in this horrible hot weather with no rain?

HI Terry!
Welcome to the forum. Glad to see more from myneck of the woods on here :-D
So I suppose you have been to Lee's Gardens? I was there for the first time back in late June. This was right around the time of the National Convention in Indy and I think that's why their selection of hosta was kind of unorganized. I believe they were one of the venders at the Convention and I'm sure they took lots of their best with them.
I will have to pay them another visit again sometime.
I have become more interested in Heucheras the past year or so myself. I hope you will share with us some of your experiences and pictures too!

Again Welcome aboard!
Janet

Hi Terry
I'm glad there's someone else from Central Illinois on the forum. We'll have to tour each others gardens!

Janet, I visited Lee Gardens a couple of years ago and I agree with your conclusion. I think it's always that way, but she does have a lot of the newer hostas.

Sally

Hi, Kim here from up in Mundelein... I am new to collecting hostas, but well on my way with a wish list worth more than i can spend this year. So now I have to decide on just a few to buy and plan my spring order... any sugestions to a nursery in illinois that has a large selection???? i like to see the plant before buying, sometimes pictures arent enough...

It is little out of the way for you but there is Sunrise Greenhouses in Grand Park, IL. They carry about 400 varieties for very reasonable prices. Plants are healthy and they up to date on HVX.
You can look up their catalog on line
http://www.woldhuisfarms.com/hostas1.htm
Place is well worth the visit, it is huge and they have astounding amount of plants.

Sunrise starts their Sale next week. Buy 2 get one free.
Things will sell out fast. There is still a large collection and they keep adding more.

I've been to Lee's a couple of times, but haven't really found much to choose from. My favorite place for hostas and heucheras is Hornbakers in Princeton. It's a little drive for me; about an hour and a half; but they have a tremendous selection of hostas, heucheras, japanese maples, roses, dayliles, etc. Check out their website; their prices are great and their plants are huge. I try to make it there a couple of times a year. It's well worth the drive.

hi,

I'm Ellen and I live in Bartlett. I am a huge hosta nut. I was just scouting out my next purchase when I came across your post.... I love to check out peoples favorites as a guide to my next score... I think my favorite is Marilyn Monroe, no Sagae, no whirlwind, no... maybe elegans, or maybe it is Krossa Regal planted in a row like soldiers. Do you see my problem?......... aaaaggggghhhh!!!!

lindalana, thanks for mentioning Sunrise Greenhouse. I stopped by there today. I had been there before, but that was before I got the hosta bug. You're absolutely right, they have a wonderful selection. I ended up picking up 7 hostas. My favorite purchases were 'Silver Threads and Golden Needles', 'Marilyn Monroe' and 'Spilt Milk'. I missed the sale by three days but we have plans next week so I couldn't go. Still, I feel they have really reasonable prices and I got a good deal. I brought my 4 girls along and they had a good time walking around their hay bale maze, but they cut me short on time because it was pretty darn hot, which was probably just as well because who knows how many hosta I would have come home with otherwise. Thanks, Dan

Hi Dan,
You should visit with your family for the Corn Fest on Aug 25th. If the girls enjoyed theirselves this past week they should really enjoy themselves on that weekend. Alot to do for children. Check out their website and click on Events. You could also make another haul!!!! Sale priced.

I'm Jim in rural Hanover, in the northwest corner, Jo Daviess county. I've only been into hostas since 04 and have about 45 varieties.

Hi! I am Bev from Nilwood just 35 mile straight south of Springfield. Looks like I am the only one in the middle. Oh well I am always in the middle of my hostas anyway. TE HE!!

Susan from Crystal Lake - Hi Carole!
I love Hornbaker's as well. A really fun place! -Plan on spending some serious time there -take lunch and eat in the gazebo! -They also have a fantastic iris patch.

And......Holy Cow Denny 1500!!! Just can't even picture that!

Hello Bev,
Are you on 55 South? We have traveled that road many times and I can't recall ever seeing the town of Nilwood. Springfield is about 90 minutes from us. We usually go up through Taylorville to get there. If you ever find yourself in Effingham call or e-mail and I will show you my collection.
Denny

I'm in Orland Park and I am a hosta-holic. Unfortunately, so are the deer!!!!!!!!!! Anyone know a fool-proof repellant?

I don't post here often anymore. My slow dialup takes way too long to load the pages and I run out of patience, but I do check in from time to time.
I live in Morrison, also. Jim, I can't believe there are two of us from the same small town.
I have somewhere upwards of 530 varieties now, probably around 800 plants altogether.
Linda P

St. Charles. NOwhere near 500 varieties. Maybe 40 different kinds.

Can you recommend a good nursery? All mine are from relatives and Planter's Palette in winfield mostly.

What online vendors do you all use?

Noticed mentions of nematodes as a problem in this forum. I never heard of them till today. All mine are fine. Anyone around here in IL have them as a problem?

33 Illinois Hostaholic's have signed in so far. Minnesota is still a head of us!!

Hope to hear from more of us!!!!!!

Connie

klimkm...My favorite online nursery to get hostas at is Hallsons. Do a search here on online nurseries, and you will learn of a few more. I like hallson's prices, service, great size, and low shipping.

Nematodes are in my gardens, and I am continuing to dig up and throw out all my hostas that I bought over the past seven years from the big box store. Not just because of the nematodes, which I became informed about the past two years from this forum, but also due to HVX. I started a separate hosta garden that only has the new hostas I've ordered from hallson's. I'm starting over, I guess you could say.

I'm not in Illinois but real close...NW Indiana. Visit Sunrise Greenhouse about 4 times a year...love their buy 2 get 1 free sale!! Boy what did I buy from the sale...Blue Haired Lady, Warwick Comet, Carolina Sunshine, Lakeside Cupcake, Rhinestone Cowboy, Touch of Class....hmmm...seems like there was another...and some Heuchera.

Stephanie

Klimkm
there is nice nursery not too far from you Contrary Mary's. I have not been there myself but my friends got lots of hosta from her and you could look online for catalog.
My mail order nurseries were Northern Grown Perennials, Hallson's and Chuck Plemmons-The hostaman.
Was very pleased with my orders and received huge divisions of plants with huge root system, pricing and service are great as well. Will be placing orders with them next spring for sure.

Hello from Lawrenceville Il. Southern Illinois along the Indiana border. Zone5b/6a I'm along Rt 50 and sell hostas at the Rt 50 garage sale its every year weekend before memorial weekend.It's a fun way to meet people. stop by and look at the garden paula

Hi every one,

Carol from Oregon,Illinois,

I missed this post,was on vacation.
Can it be bumped up to front page?

Nice to meet all of you. :0)

Nice to meet you Paulah and just 1 more! I am from Effingham. I am heading to the Haunted Mansion in Louisville Kentucky [DW's Idea!],on June 6th. Will I be passing your house in Lawrenceville ? I am looking for "Hosta Stops" to justify this adventure in my own mind! Anyway, Welcome to the forum.

Denny

Jim from mattoon east central area.

Denny,

Thank you for the nice welcome,I am a lurker here,i love all the information every one is so happy to share with all of us. :0)

Carol

Jim and Mary-Anne from IL have not checked in.
You find more hostaholics with Papous Maps below. Just select Hostaholics from the menu bar on the left.
Manfred

Here is a link that might be useful: Papou's map of hostaholics

Mary Ann checking in. I dunno where Jim's been? Manfred, you're so observant.

Rick - Belleville, IL.

Cheryl from Carbondale IL, down near Anna and very southern tip of the state.
I am a huge hostaholic, have 450+ varieties in "name theme" display beds.
PS, why don't we have a southern hosta society down here?

Hi, I love hostas, just got started a couple years ago, some I got at garage sales, so I don`t know all their names, trying to find out. Have about 20 different kinds. I`m Deb from Machesney Pk.IL

Hello my fellow Lincoln Land Hostaholics.
Will any of you be attending the Midwest convention in Champaign Illinois this year?

Denny
Effingham,Il aka(the town with the big cross)

It is really a nice and informative site.

Lisa11

Nancy......Dixon IL. I rarely post, but do a lot of reading. Love this forum and LOVE HOSTAS! Carol... Just1morehosta... is my neighbor. She gives me lots of inspiration, she is totally obsessed. Her address is Oregon, mine is Dixon, but she lives directly through the woods from me. Kind of neat!

Rick from Belleville

Does 15 miles north of the Cheese Curtain count? Janesville, WI.

Normal, IL here.

Champaign noobie here.

Bump
Bump
Bump

I'm in West Central Illinois, 75 miles west of Peoria. Only have about 20 varieties but am on this site to find out the best ones to buy next. Didn't lose a one this year and they are looking beautiful.

Peoria Illinois here. I hit the 100 varieties mark just yesterday after having only about a dozen varieties last spring. I am hoping to make it to 150 varieties by the end of the season.

Frank

Nice of you to bring this up again Phill.
Yes, why aren't we all part of a hosta club?
cAROL

Here's one more, in Collinsville Il across the river from St Louis. Could almost see the arch if my trees weren't in the way but if I didn't have them would have all my beautiful hosta. I'm the Lou of Loujak.

Here is one more, I'm in Wasco, IL - Just west of St. Charles, IL!

Lost the list of what type I have! Just keep buying new one each year............

Cheers!!

Hi! I live in Hickory Hills (SW suburb of Chicago). Been lurking (and occasionally posting) here for about six years now. It's great! I love all the pictures, plus the forum is so informative and friendly. My hosta collection is rather small (just under 40 varieties) but I'm planning my first trip ever to Hornbaker's soon, so that should help!

Lisa

Hi, I'm a newbie to this forum but not to hostas. I have over 250 varieties and counting. I live in Knoxville,Il. I have been reading this forum for a couple of weeks and really enjoy it.
Sally

Hi....add me to the list. Name is Dan and I live in Pontiac, IL. I'm 33 years and a hostaholic! Have a wife(Lisa) and a 2 year old son(Ryne). I have 127 varieties at the moment, with a wish list a mile long. I get 99% of my plants from Hornbaker's in Princeton and Sunrise in Grant Park.