Atlantis maybe.

My first thought was Hosta 'Satisfaction'.
Vanessa

I see no curl or cowlick in this plant, so of the two suggestions made so far, I think Satisfaction is closer. It is not twisted or curled. My Satisfaction has a bit more gloss to the leaf though not much. And I cannot give a good guess because all the hostas I've seen are very young plants. If you have a young plant, I might hazard a guess.

I see what you mean about this one being too lovely to walk on by. Love that color too.

Thanks. Keep in mind this was an old garden, a very old house. I doubt it is a newer variety.

Any guesses from the "Old Standsrds" list?

An old house and old garden doesn't necessarily mean it is an old planting. From the size of the leaves I would guess that a 2 foot high, 3 foot wide plant would not be that old (???)

Jon

Jonny makes a valid point there. You pointed out that this plant stood out in an otherwise mundane or nondescript garden, so it might have been a gift plant to the home owners.

MYHOSTAS.BE says it was introduced in 1997. It forms a clump about 3 feet wide. It is a sport of Piedmont Gold, and has similar characteristics.

I have two Satisfactions, but both are rather small, not mature. I'll have to see if I can find the Old Standards list, not familiar with that list, new to hosta myself.

mclarke,

It's very difficult to do an ID from a picture like the one you posted. I can't see an entire leaf, nor can I get an idea of what the clump looks like. If you can get better pictures then we might have a chance.

Jon is correct that 2x3'is not large for a Hosta. So it could be Satisfaction. But at this point it's just a guess. If you want a more definitive ID you'll have to provide better pictures.

Steve

Montana Aureomarginata.

YES!!!! Thank you, tomahawkclaim!!! That's exactly it, I knew I'd recognize the name when I heard it.

H. Montana Aureomarginata, registered in 1987.

And thank you, tomahawkclaim, for not sneering at my photo or my obviously incompetent size-estimating ability. I didn't have a ruler with me. It really WAS huge.

Now I can order one of my own.

Here is a photo from the hosta library:

The hosta in the question doesn't look like Montana Aureomarginata to me. There is not the shine on it like Montana Aureomarginata has. The veining is also very different.
It would be great if you could show us a better picture of the entire plant as Steve suggested.
Vanessa

mclarke,

I wasn't sneering at your picture. There are literally thousands of Hostas that are green with yellow margins. In order to get a definitive ID you have to provide more evidence. Besides the difference in shininess that Vanessa pointed out, in the Library picture you should notice that at the base of the leaves, montana Aureomarginata has green streaks that go out into the margin. You can see that best at the leaf at 6 o'clock on the Library pic. None of the leaves in your picture do that.

It may be montana A. But your pic doesn't look like it. Still if that answer makes you happy, then go buy it. Montana A is a great Hosta. You'll love it.

Steve

"It would be great if you could show us a better picture of the entire plant as Steve suggested."

I would if I could, but I was simply visiting the town where the hosta is. I was not expecting to see this hosta, so I took the best photo I could with my cellphone. I'm very very sorry. I love hostas and I thought maybe, just maybe, I could find out what this one was.

I was just travelling. I made my husband stop the car. I'm unlikely ever to go back there. So I suppose I've learned my lesson. I'll never know.

I have posted on this forum before, and I've done my best to take photos with a real camera, with rulers in the photo, closeups of the leaves, counting the vein pairs, and so forth. It just wasn't possible this time. Sorry sorry sorry.

Not shiny? Not Montana? : ( Sad, sad, I am very sad.

...slinking away now...

Don't be sad. Go buy a big beautiful Hosta like Montana Aureomarginata or Satisfaction or Atlantis. That will make you happy. I'm sure of it. Here are some pictures to cheer you up.

montana Aureo

Satisfaction, big and bold

Atlantis - gorgeous and big

Steve

Maybe Tyler's Treasure? (Not an expert but throwing it out there!) Don't be sad - I have coveted many plants in strangers gardens as I drive by...at least you stopped and got the picture!