Ken, that is like saying don't marry the daughter until after you see the mama. In my case, if I waited to see mature hosta before I brought the wee babe home, I'd not have a single hosta. I totally remember when I was smitten by hosta. It was love at first sight. I walked into the Asian Market in Chelmsford, and the owner had her mama's Sum and Substance in a pot near the register. I did not know that hosta grew as big as an elephant ear!! Wow. It sure made my DH's green w/white margin old fashioned hosta look pretty puny. Right now, I'm at the stage of wanting to find a list of those with good substance and any other factors which will make them endure the climate I plan to grow them in. Here on the Hosta Forum we have folks singing in three- and four-part harmony--some in New England, midwest/far north, upper south, and more recently a little squeaky note from the far south. I think it is really making some fine music. Also, successes are nice to read about, but so are the failures. Things which did not work out. Including soil mixes, sun and shade trials, infatuations for plants which turned to boredom or disappointment. A plant which started good but failed to live up to expectations. I don't think I'll ever stop choosing plants with names which are significant to me, although I'm willing to let plants by any other name surprise and delight me. A rose is a rose IS a rose after all. especially it is is a plantagenea. :)

never to second guess chris... and the pic is out of focus.. but it would fit in the tiara range ... and i have no clue what the limey version of that is.. lol.. could be limey lisa.. lol .. early color can sometimes be a bit 'off' .. for ID purposes.. on a green hosta .... especially if forced early or grown indoors ... [and a hosta in bloom in feb has been forced early] ken

lindac, very true I'm only following your lead that there a lot of older hosta that are worth having and the cheapest plant that looks like Wide Brim or Leola Fraim is all you need maybe vs chasing a new one very much like those two but new on the market. How many Fragrant Bouquet look alikes like Holy Mole, etc does one need or want or can afford (now you're talking about me)? I usually can spot F Bouquet from 10ft. BTW, I bought Holy Mole last year? Leola Fraim or Wide Brim comes up a little later than the other, BIG BUTT who cares?

I understand the 10 ft rule and I do "think" I recognize some with the 10 ft rule. Until all the H.'Striptease' sports I could recognize Striptease but I suspect there will be some Striptease registered as distinct but we will start to have trouble separating them. The question will come up quickly; "should they be registered", trust me that is a question for another thread. Now, I can tell H.'Hanky Panky' from H.'Striptease' even H.'Silver Eagle' but I offer there will be a time when we will start to have trouble with the all the sports. My H.'Hanky Panky' is making different colors than I remember from last year. Here is the same Hanky Panky 07-23-08 The same Hanky Panky 06-08 not sure of the exact date. The same plant Hanky Panky 09-01-07 last year.