I don't grow this, but found comments at Paghat's Gardens on it where she has described her experience in the Pacific northwest. She comments that given adequate moisture (but not kept soggy) it will keep its leaves all summer. In response to Ken, in my experience, Dicentra spectabilis goes dormant consistently, but the fern leafed varieties don't necessarily. They may slow blooming in hot weather, but here in my NH garden, Dicentra eximia blooms much of the gardening season and the foliage is present all summer. I also have an unknown white-flowered variety (maybe also D eximia) that keeps its leaves all summer but doesn't bloom quite as long. Here is a link that might be useful: Burning Hearts at Paghat's Garden

I have the white and the pink versions and they reseed like crazy for me. I have to pull out the volunteers every spring because they are such prolific reseeders. The two original plants that came with the house are probably about 4 ft tall each right now and the foliage looks good until August when it gets too hot and goes dormant. I have easily transplanted seedlings and taken chunks off the mother plant and everything lives. It is the earliest thing to show growth in spring, one of the first things to bloom, and goes strong for a LONG time. They like partial shade and slightly moist conditions and good soil to thrive, or at least that is what mine seem to like... I can send people pieces - just let me know how to accomplish this! Amy

'Be Still My Heart' - What a wonderful name for a hosta. I too, have had the honor of meeting Russ O'Hara's wife & daughters. Once @ Russ' garden during the 2004 National Hosta Convention & then at the Iowa Arboretum during the dedication of the 'Iowa Collection' hosta bed just outside the door of the beautiful Hughes bldg. Roseanne, (wife) invited all of the Russ O'Hara Hosta Society members to their home for an afternoon tea party. Alas, Russ' garden is not well tended. But in 2004 his daughter had worked hard to bring it up to snuff for others to enjoy as an alternate AHS convention tour garden. 'Perfectly Lovely' might describe the garden. A peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. 'Show me your garden & I will tell you who you are.' befits the gentle peaceful man, Russ O'Hara. I never had the honor of mtg Russ but several of my hosta friends did know & love him. One friend who portrays the same generous spirit is Audra Wilson of Ackley, IA. She & Russ were best friends. She still stays in touch with Roseanne. The very first time I met Audra she gave me several hostas all of which were Russ O'Hara introductions. One was 'Quilting Bee' which was brand new on the market that year & selling for $40.00. Audra has never sold a hosta but has given & donated the best of the best plants many times over. Audra & Russ O'Hara signify 'Hosta, the Friendship Plant'. If you would like to join the ROHS (Russ O'Hara Hosta Society) visit - http://rohs.org/ It's a good thing! email me for details / questions. I serve on the membership committee. Thanx! MM Here is a link that might be useful: Marlys' Garden

17 years ago in my sisters small town in Illinois...I was wrestling my kid into his car seat...he was fitful and kept unbuckling it...we had been in the grocery store to visit my sister in the deli she ran so I was just carrying my wallet...I sat it on top of the car...and of course...you know I got the kid in the car and drove off...and didn't remember it till a few minutes later when pulling into my sisters driveway...I rushed back...saw bits and pieces of my wallet strung across the highway...my sister said...go to the police station...my money...my credit cards...my passport...everything of value was in there and I was 400 miles from home...I walked into the police station and he's holding my passport up and chatting with my husband on the phone...I was so embarrassed that I had done a lamebrained thing...he just laughed...a women saw it fall off...stopped and picked it up and took it to the police station...but wouldn't leave her name...I wrote a letter to the editor of their small paper and he published my thank you note to the wonderful stranger who saved my vacation... 9 years ago our Duncan Doggie got out and took off...we looked and looked for over a week...he was tagged so we were thinking the worse that he'd been killed...sure enough a week to the day the phone rings and a women says "Are you Duncan's Mom? we flew outta the house and over to where he was some 10 miles away...that 80 pound dog jumped into my hubands arms...I pulled my husbands emergency cash from his glove compartment and gave it to them...they looked like they could use it and it will keep them honest...they didn't want to take it but I made them...Getting that doggie back was worth 100 times what we gave them...He said "Seeing that dog jump into your husbands arms was reward enough for me"... and my last honesty story...At Christmas I was waiting in the car while my son went into a store and had put my purse down at my feet...my son came out to the car to ask me a question and opened the door instead of waiting for me to roll down the window...We get 5 miles away and to the next store and I have no purse...I raced back to where we were and a nice couple were sitting in their car waiting for me to come back...I had bought gas gift cards for my kids that day...I hopped outta the car and gave them one...the thought of losing my purse was by far more then I gave them... Yes there really are lots of honest people still left in this big wide world and I thank my lucky stars to meet up with so many of them...If I had a nickel for every cell phone I've mailed to some passenger who's left it on the plane I could retire...I firmly believe that what go's around comes around...so I do my part in returning stuff I find (and believe me I find lots of stuff left on planes!)