I know someone who went to Hofstra. Will that work?

And that would be where??

DD

I wouldn't go anyway because of the distance, but the class offerings seemed kind of lame to me.

bk

There were many classes offered this year...12 to 15 different options for each hour. But maybe nothing you're interested in? I've taught at Hosta College for the last three years, and in preparation for next year, I'd like to hear some subjects that most hosta gardeners would be interested in...

Devon went again this year...he posted on the Designer Genes post. Hopefully he'll read this and respond with comments :-)

I would like to check it out, sometime. But I'm just homeschooled in hosta for now, lolz

I wish I could watch a video recording of these classes at hosta college, I doubt I'll ever get to attend, although a convention is on my bucket list.

Denis

Ohio's a bit far away for this homebody. I also wondered if they offer online classes, but it sounds like it's better to be there in person to interact with other hostaphiles.

~~~~~~~~~~

Great Lakes Region American Hosta Society / Hosta College 2015

• Fri, Mar 20, 2015
  6:00pm
  
  Sun, Mar 22, 2015
  8:00pm

Location: Upper Valley Career Center,
8811 Career Drive Piqua, Ohio 45356
Contact: (937) 778-1980
Host: Great Lakes Region of the American Hosta Society
Registration: http://www.ihostohio.org/portal/glhc/
Registration fee: $42 for members, $55 for non-members

"Each
year during March, the Great Lakes Region (GLR) of the American Hosta
Society hosts a gathering of approximately 500 enthusiastic gardeners
from the Midwest and other parts of the US, Canada, and even Europe.
This gathering is called Hosta College, and it takes place at Upper
Valley Career Center in Piqua, Ohio.

Hosta College begins on
Friday night with several different activities from which participants
can choose. The vending area offers a large selection of plants (even
though it may be snowing outside!), garden accessories, tools, and other
garden-related merchandise for shoppers. The Bookstore features
gardening books at fantastic discounts, stationery, society clothing
items, and other Hosta College souvenirs. The auditorium and other areas
provide slide presentations, talks by gardening experts, and
opportunities to socialize with new and old friends from Hosta College.
An auction of rare and unusual plants will be held on Friday evening. On
Saturday, following a brief period for shopping in the Vending or
Bookstore, classes begin at 8 a.m. Students attend 5 classes they have
chosen from a program of over 70 classes taught by a faculty of
approximately 50 volunteers. Mid-day each student has lunch from a
delicious buffet included in the registration fee. At the end of the day
students take a brief break and then return for a banquet and talk that
concludes the Hosta College experience."

I suggest anyone who can, plan to attend a Hosta College.

They will still be able to experience the exhilaration of early hosta cultivation pioneers, that of meeting someone who has been down the road a few years before and has plenty of war stories worth hearing first-hand.

We went for many years, driving from Delaware or Michigan and NEVER ever were disappointed. We plan to attend next year, maybe teach a course or two?

How would you react; when I taught a class on dividing hosta and threw a big hosta clump (20-30 eyes) 10 feet into the air to let it crash down on the stage?

Many gasps, tell-tale "oh no, you shouldn't do that to hosta clumps">

Then the realization as I explained clumps grown in clay are so solid that to free up the root masses for proper clean divisions one has to put energy into breaking up the root ball.

Still , I had several older ladies quietly after the class approach my mother Pauline and tell her that I had not learned very much from her.

She quickly but lovingly retorted "I taught him that and how to hit clumps on tree trunks as well"

The banquet speeches were humdingers as well!

What would you pay for stories like that?

Bruce

hostasmith, how wonderful that you went with your grandfather. That's precious time, right there. And those classes sound interesting to me. TC for dummies sounds about my speed. What a haul of special hostas you came home with.

Bruce, I appreciate those with hosta knowledge sharing it like you do. It's good to hear about what goes on because it will persuade more people to check it out for themselves. That's a funny story about throwing the hosta and your mom taking credit for teaching you such things.

How would you react; when I taught a class on dividing hosta and threw a
big hosta clump (20-30 eyes) 10 feet into the air to let it crash down
on the stage?

==>>> i was wondering where i learned that trick ... lol ...

though i did recall he was the source of the tree abuse method ...

ken

Did it divide or land with a thud Intact?

Bruce, my immediate response would be a knowing chuckle amidst the gasps and the thought "that man knows what he's doing" ! Really enjoyed you sharing that...your mother taught you plenty...things you won't read in books. That kind of knowledge is invaluable...and you are passing it along to the grateful lot of us. I would buy the "Pauline Banyai" book on Hostas/gardening if it were available. Do you write?

Let me say I'd sign up for one of yours, Don R., Devon's, Ken's classes anytime. Wish I lived closer.

Jo

It bounced, it was that hard!

I think it was a Green Acres clump about 6-8 years old, that had +60 eyes and was about 3 ft across in clay. After dividing it in class gave away the divisions to the students.

I need to publish some of my mother's notes and letters to others that I have, as she was a great writer.

I may re-teach the Hosta Collge class titled "The MIchigan Hosta Lady - Pauline Banyai", which I last taught maybe 15 years ago with the CD I created for the class?

Bruce

ken never taught a class... he was the banquet speaker.. the year after he potted 1650 hosta.. and moved them 65 due west .... no clue why he is talking in the third person ...

i recall a screed he did once on GW .. about having to get angry with a hosta who had to be moved.. and how he .. ken.. spent an hour pitching that sucker all over the yard.. until it fell apart ...

bruce ... upon visiting once .. and ken pointing at a hosta that hadnt done anything in 3 years ... told him to dig it up.. and either beat the roots on a tree.. or scratch the roots on cement .. on the driveway.. if you must ... and replant it at the proper depth.. as it was too low ...

the insult to the root mass .. claimed bruce ... triggered a release of survival hormones.. and the thing went bat carp crazy.. the rest of the year ...

and of course.. the whole throw them on the driveway was an homage to pauline/bruce ... as she ran her whole business off her driveway ...

she had passed by the time i got into hosta ...[finally lost the third person carp.. lol] .... and i was discover by the banyai clan.. by bruces aunt daisy ... who read about my gardens. in the saturday garden insert in the detroit news ...

and the rest is history.. as they say ...

ken

Ken, I realize...I just elevated you and Devon to "teacher's" status - I think you'd both make good ones :-)

Hosta plants, like any living plant tree or shrub, will thrive when they have good protoplasm (starting material) and the right growing conditions. They will then grow to their DNA limits and sometimes live there/overcome the environment or become susceptible to the environment. Poor Protoplasm to start is very hard to overcome; field divisions usually take out the weaker material - it dies!

So when they are small and not growing, after a few years re-plant but give them a kick in the rear by smacking them around to show them who's in charge! They will always think they are..........

Treating them too kind will only push their day of surviving on their own to another year; or deep freeze or dry summer, etc.

Root stimulation today in my academic pursuits still involved microbial stimulation via the microsphere of soil, air, water and microbial communities to utilize nutrients.

Alas, a good re-start sometimes is the fastest way to get good growth.

If your dimishing hosta languishes again this year for half a summer, dig it up, clean out any woody dead or dried out roots, soak in 10% bleach, stimulate the root mass however you wish and re-plant slightly higher in a new spot. Then water and watch, water and watch.

I still lose a few but don't stop trying. Replanted 'Designer Genes' 3 times - the eyes coming up this year are the strongest yet!

Bruce

I Joined the AHS this January because I felt out of the loop, so to speak. It's a great vehicle of resource material....and I wanted to do my bit to help support it. Every time I use the Hosta Library I am so grateful.

Bruce, Your mother's compiled notes and letters would be such a wonderful resource in the Journal as well as interesting anecdotal reading... perhaps tidbits spaced out in each journal...just thinking out loud. :-). I personally would love to read more about your mother's achievements and her experiences. We are fortunate to have you on this forum.

We benefit from others' experiences as well as from our own. Thanks for sharing - great information!

Perhaps you may have read the article I wrote previously on "Something Different"?

Bruce

Bruce, I've spent the last hour looking through Vol. 44&45 of the Journal, newsletters, and went to the Library's Reading Room, and googled for your article but all that resulted is my eyes are crossed! Lol. HELP! Thanks!

While I await your response I will google the hosta and see what I can find...its a sport of your mother's Gold Standard I realize.... not giving up! :-)

I went to Hosta College this year--my first time. I am definitely wanting to go again! It was a long drive--8 hours--my two daughters went along, but not to classes.
I attended the auction on Friday night--got some of Doug Beilstein's seedlings & a greenhouse. From vending I bought Electrocution, Poseidon, Infatuation & Sparkle. I also went to the bookstore. They had lots of books and garden tools. I bought the Hosta Finder, a book called Made in the Shade, a soil knife & a garden digging tool.
Classes I took--Tissue Cultures for Dummies, An Overview of Hosta Species, Beautiful Hydrangeas A-Z, Advanced Hosta Hybridizing 2015, Plant Propogation. I learned alot in the classes I took. This trip was for learning, next year I am going to take some of the craft classes--saw lots of cool things that others made it their classes!!

Terri

Terri, after reading your post, I'd jump for a chance to go too!

Terri, looks like my Grandfather and I were in a couple of classes with you.