I have what I think is either ORANGEMAN (Yeld 1902 ) or MRS. B.F. BONNER (Russell 42) -- probably the latter. A couple of weeks ago, on my way from here to there, I passed a small daylily seller. Left with CANARI (Nesmith 40). Also left with a pot marked RUTHIE (Williamson 66). RUTHIE, it turns out, is from the 80s and is "light pink with a rose pink halo." Sounds underwhelming. I'm hoping what I have is RUTH (Norton 46), as the registration info sounds like it matches the picture of "RUTHIE" I saw at the seller's. And, coincidentally, I just returned from the AHS Region 3 summer meeting with two oldies -- and much, much more.:))))) One is LINDA (Stout 36), a gift plant at one of the tour gardens that I also saw growing in an impressive clump in an open garden the day before. The other was one I'd seen in yet another open garden -- PERSIAN PRINCESS (Nesmith 38). It's not splashy, certainly not big, definitely not ruffled, but I was quite taken with its unusual appearance. Naturally, I had to buy a small piece!

Thanks for the subject and the great photos everyone. bkay

I love so many of the oldies, and it was fun reading all their names and remembering them. Of course we also can't forget that if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have all the new Hosta that we do. F Hyacintheia has at least 50 sports including Gold Standard and Whirlwind. I don't think Crispula has been mentioned. I love it's dark green center with the pure white edges and the neat curly leaf tip. Montana AM is still my most favorite of all Hostas. A mature clump (of which I have two) is the most awe inspiring plant I've ever seen --IMHO. Hey-J, I did lose my 3rd MAM to HVX, so stick with your plan to get another one going. Mary

Here's mine. For a few years, when I was little (during the 50s), the gas stations (We called them "service stations" back then. I suppose that's because they actually provided you with service.) had mailboxes for children to mail their letters to Santa. I remember one that hung between the tanks at the local Shell my parents went to. This one is a 76 Union mailbox (the logo is under the gold bow). I found it (or should I say, "It found me.")shortly after we moved into our first and only house. I paid $20 for it back then - far, far more than I could afford at the time, but I've never regretted it. It's falling apart, but I treat it ever so gently and hope the rust won't spread. Recently I found an old photo from my hometown newspaper (me, mailing a letter to Santa) and have started to display it next to the mailbox.