Totally beautiful, just beautiful. And HostaLes, the French were the ones who believed that perfect beauty was sort of boring, and they are the ones who invented "beauty marks", like small moles etc, imperfections which made beauty that much more exquisite, and unique. (Might have led to caricature as well, like Bette Davis Eyes.) Every perfect plant would be alike. The same. And, my DH tells me that in engineering there is something called "sameness death" --so that if it is all leveled out, all the same, then we have a "flatliner" situation. And I personally don't want to flat line any time soon. So Don's plant has a beauty mark, I betcha.

Thanks, Jo. It seems a spring fever has come upon me, and I spent almost the entire weekend browsing hosta catalogs and reading posts and doing some research about hostahostahosta. So....what else is new with the rest of the forum? Don keeps his garden so perfect, my first impulse is to ask him, "How many gardeners do you employ full time to keep it that nice?" Mine will never be so lovely. Somewhere I seem to remember pictures of the massive construction of curbed bed borders and paved pathways of this garden. THAT is total dedication, and also self-knowledge....Don knows his interest in hosta is a life long affair. I have to admire the garden on all points.

I am so happy to see your pictures again! I was here back then, but mostly lurking, which I still do a lot because I am not very good about id-ing my plants since the dogs destroyed my labels and I gave up There are a few I know the names of, but not too many. You were one of my secret mentors when I started my hosta planting! I am sorry your 'When I Dream' was a disappointment, but there is so much to love about your gardens! Thank you for that!!!

Ron, came across your post which I missed before...what a beautiful place you have. I am in the midst of planting shade companion plants, so appreciate your thoughts on light for the list you have. Hope you will keep posting pics! Oh, forgot...the potted hostas that you overwinter in the garage...do you have any special tricks for overwintering? I have done it 3-4 years now with about an 85% rate, but I'd like to improve on that because I do not like losing even one! I overwintered some out in our shed this last year instead of the garage, and the mice got into them and I lost a bunch. My biggest problems have to do with springtime moisture levels...I do not water them at all in the garage, come spring, I try to make sure at least 1/2 have broken dormancy before going outside. (Leave them in the garage too long, they dry out and die, water them in the garage, or take them out too early, they can rot.) Would love to hear how you handle yours. For this next year, I'm thinking about giving each small one an ice cube in Feb/March. Just to add some moisture back in as the weather warms up.