I don't know the answers to your questions , but I would love to attend the Nationals in Iowa next June. I have a cousin in Cedar Rapids so I would have someone to stay with to keep expenses down. I am also curious as to how much the convention costs.

Same here, only I've got a brother and a sister who live in Cedar Rapids. I'm just wondering if a National Convention is going to be overwhelming. You know, one of those things where everyone knows everyone else and they all speak Latin and mutter about gene pairings.

First, I have been to two nationals and three regional conventions. I like the nationals but cannot always attend that time of year (June). Like you two, I plan on attending Cedar Rapids next year.

There is not much detailed information out on the 2014 convention yet but I hear through the grape vine that it will be another good one. There is always speakers. What is gleaned from their presentations varies from person to person but they are always entertaining. I try to see two of these each convention, although rest is also important. You need to be wide awake and alert for the garden tours. The garden tours are the most important - do not miss.

As far as cost goes it varies. We stay at the hotel to make things simpler but commuting works also. When the nationals were in Minneapolis, we commuted and didn't miss a thing.

You could google 2013 AHS national convention to read how much they charged this year but it less than next year as we will have bus tours next year which cost more. Its worth every penny in my book. You don't have to be a member but you will probably want to join after you attend a convention; I did.

I hope this is helpful

Beverly Lambert

Here is a link that might be useful: 2014 AHS Convention

Here's the best reasons for attending a hosta convention - in rank order...

1. All the cool hosta people you will meet.
2. Meeting lots of the "famous names" you've read about... almost certainly will run into Bob Solberg, Mark Zilis, Gary from Naylor Creek, Josh from In The Country, Lee Coates in the vending area, Rob Mortko... too many others to name...
3. All the cool hosta people you will meet.
4. The garden tours... a great chance to see what your hostas will look like - when they grow up! And lots of great gardening ideas to steal and pretend they are yours!
5. All the cool hosta people you will meet.
6. The vending area - a chance to see lots of the newest hostas just coming out of tissue culture for the first time... and if you are like me, you hang out until the end and get the half-off deals from the guys who don't want to load them all back into their trucks...
7. All the cool hosta people you will meet.
8. The presentations... always something new to learn... still have my notes from the martagon lily presentation in 2010.
9 All the cool hosta people you will meet.

10. The Auction... you can scratch your head and wonder what people are thinking (or what people have been drinking) to make some of those plants worth that much money. All I've ever bought is some slug repellant - but it is a gas watching!

And last, but not least - All the cool hosta people you will meet. We have commuted, or stayed in our RV, for the conventions we've attended. I think the only thing we've missed is sitting around the "Hostatality Room" and meeting cool people - some of them famous, some of them just about to become your good hosta friends...

Truthfully - we aren't good "joiners" and don't do a lot of conventioning... or even attending our local meetings, though we always keep our memberships current... but if you can make it, you should catch a convention every now and then.

6.

I attended my first National this year, and I was really on the fence about going... I am so glad I did!

The cost to register was $229-$249 per person for LAST year's 2012 convention. The one this year in Milwaukee was cheaper ($139 per person) because they decided not to charter buses for the garden tours; each person was given a map to the 10 gardens.
For this year's convention, the registration fee got you a gift plant, entry to classes & speakers, entry into the tour gardens, Friday night banquet, Saturday luncheon, & Saturday night banquet.
Some things are open to the public without registering - the vending areas, leaf show, and auction for instance.

Hotel room is not included; you can choose to stay at the convention site for convenience & to meet lots of hosta people, or stay off-site, it's your choice. Once the convention details are announced, they will let you know the price of the hotel.

You do not have to be a member of AHS to attend. We didn't know anyone, but met some great people during the meals and on the tours - lots of opportunities to socialize & meet people, but you could keep to yourself if you wanted. I especially enjoyed the auction, even it you are not bidding, it is quite entertaining.

I did not attend any of the classes or speakers, so can't really say about that. I actually ended up with 3 different "gift" hostas because it's a gift plant per registration and if your spouse registers, they get one too :) This year's convention had 2 to choose from, so we each picked a different one. Then during the auction, they gave away the table decorations, which were mini hostas in hypertufa pots, and I got that too. Score! Plus with the plants I bought in the vending area, I came away with a trunk full.

I definitely can't afford to do this every year, but the next time the Nationals are in my neck of the woods, I will go again. It was a great experience.

Wendy

And all the cool Hosta people you will meet!!!!

They had one a few years ago in DM, sponsored by our Russ O'Harra hosta society.

A shady affair is what the theme was.

Volunteers got the hosta by the same name, and a neat tee, with the logo. And we got a deep discount/price break.

And we got to shop early.

And we met a lot of cool hosta peeps.

I like the auction. Plants go for ridiculous prices, for the good of the cause.

It needs to go on your bucket list, if you are the least interested in hostas!

ÃÂ.ÃÂ --~

dave

JUST DO IT ...

if only once

ken

OK, sounds like a fun time, and I'll bet at least one of the other hosta lovers around here will go, too. Might be able to find a roommate and stay at the hotel! Wonder if the Dave's will be one of the display gardens. It's stronger on conifers than hostas, but so beautiful.

Hubby and I went for the first time this year...

It was in Milwaukee,,,,sooo,,,,it was kinda now or never...

We had a very good time and came home with a trunk full of hostas,,,,

and a rock from Josh,,,

and one of those Pumice Stone faces from Sandie...

the auction was a crazy thing to watch...

and we went to all the speakers and were thoroughly entertained....

Oh yeah...bought 3 books also....they had several authors of hosta books in one spot...it was too hard to say no to any of them...lol...

The Green & Gold Hosta Society is hosting the Midwest Convention next year,,,,soo,,,wanted to get a taste of it so we knew what we would be volunteering for...

jill

When we first started attending hosta conventions we only knew members from our own club, Russ O'Harra.

Now we have many friends all over the US, and have met quite a few from other countries.
For me the BEST part is seeing hosta friends we have met over the years!

The auction are exciting......even just watching the fast and furious bidding. Many one of a kind plants.

We have been know to bid a few times (wink, as we often have friends bidding against other friends), it is for a good cause, supporting the AHS!

In the case of a tour being in your area, please do attend.

We love hosta conventions!

The national convention and garden tours might be in your area every 10yrs or more......so don't miss it when you have the chance. Immerse yourself in everything - tours, leaf shows, presentations, dinners and meetings, auctions, vending, hospitality room, volunteering and meeting people....you'll enjoy it all.

Paul

I started attending AHS conventions on a regional level in 1979, when we went to Eunice Fisher's garden for that year's Midwest Regional Hosta Society .

Went to quite a few Regional/National Conventions from 1982-1992 when I was in charge of the National Convention Auctions, then back for a few more recently (had real job/work to do for a few years that kept me away!)

Hosta are friendship plants; AHS conventions, both regional and national are where you meet and make the hosta friends that go with the friendship plant.

Hosta friends come in many sizes, shapes and shades, just like the plants. The friendships last as long or longer!

Bruce