Wow! That is a really nice division you gave your friend and very sweet of you to do so. I wish I were your friend....

I'm sure your plant will recover in no time at all.

I think a lot of hostas thrive after being divided. I have a friend with an incredible hosta collection and she divides hers regularly (both to give away and to plant elsewhere in her garden). What a generous friend you are to give her such a special hosta.

Ouchie! Very gracious of you Barb. It will come back to you, maybe in the form of say... a sport? WW

I agree...I have a hard time letting go of my own plant so always buy new ones for people lol

Your June Fever looks incredible, Barb. I don't think I've seen a bigger one.

Vanessa

This is the only friend I would do this for - irawon - you are right, buying her one would have been so much easier. But she has been so generous with me - she had many many hosta and moved this past year so there were quite a few where she had divisions in our local Hort. plant sale and then some she just gave to me. She is the one who really get me into hostas and I just had to divide this one for her. I've consoled myself knowing that this new division is going to a really good home. LOL

Wendy - I love the idea it may come back to me as a sport!

Good story, and a good friend. I have no idea why I never put casualties in a vase...great idea!

I don't think you need to worry about your June (which is beautiful). Every year, I do not get around to digging up hostas for our hort Society plant sale until they have leafed out, and it really doesn't do them any harm. In my experience, and except for a few finicky exceptions (e.g. Hanky Panky, Spilt Milk, and the mini Mighty Mouse, they seem to like being divided.

I hate ding that but she lunula none the worse for such a large clump being removed. Mine has never grown well....much June Fever envy here.

She still looks lovely and next season you won't be able to tell. You did that! You are a good friend.

Sherry

You did the right thing, especially since she was your first enabler of hostas! I agree that the plant will respond with even more growth next year. Still looks amazing after surgery!

NEVER give free reign in this fashion ...

offer one that you choose ...

BTW.. this is why i started a nursery bed ... just 4 by 6 feet ...

so when i made this type of mistake... i would cut an extra division or two.. and stick it in the nursery .

and when the visit was coming to an end.. we would stop by the nursery.. and say which one do you want??? .. and usually throw in one of my choice .. everyone left skipping to the car.. lol ...

knowing.. more or less.. what was in the nursery .. i would ask them.. in front of the big plant.. you like that one??? .... and then tell them at the nursery ..... boy.. you sure liked that one... here is a piece ...

ken

why ... they will want your dorothy benedict or some such ... lol

ken

Ken, I always thought your nursery bed for give-away hosta presents was such a brilliant idea, and so generous of you! Your first sentence was my first thought when I got to the words Barb wrote... "my hosta list". (I felt instant panic as if it was mine! Lol)

Barb, that was quite the unselfish thing to do. . . But what better way to thank her for sharing so much with you... than sharing one of your own prized hosta. That took courage and a kind heart! :-). Well done on all fronts...I agree, next year you'll never tell the difference, except perhaps more growth.

You're good peeps, Charlie Brown.

I am saving Ken's advice for later when I have something to give away!

Thanks for all the kind words everyone. I'm sure you are all right, I won't even be able to tell next year. That really wasn't even my biggest concern, it just felt wrong digging into a strong healthy plant and cutting it up. The root knife just seemed brutal. I split my Teaspoon for someone else as well, but it was in a pot and I just sort of pulled the roots apart and and got a nice little chunk with minimal damage and no broken leaves. Took the opportunity to freshen the soil a little and it was good to go.

Jo, I'm laughing about your comment when you read the 'my hosta list' part of my story. More experienced gardeners here than me!

Ken, no Dorothy Benedicts here so I didn't have to worry about that LOL. But I love the idea of a give away hosta nursery. Unfortunately every spare bit of real estate is being swallowed up with new hosta. Maybe I could try something behind the fence in the veggie garden.

".......it just felt wrong digging into a strong healthy plant and cutting it up. The root knife just seemed brutal."

This! You summed it up for me. That's how I feel about cutting into hostas or any plants. I'm trying really hard to learn that it's okay sometimes, but it feels so destructive.

The good thing is you know the person you gave such a nice portion of your June Fever to knows how to take care of it. You'll be able to visit her and see it thriving in her gardens, and that will feel good.

The wound to your soul would have been far greater than any to the hosta if you denied your friend. You did the right thing and will be rewarded every time you visit your friend and every time she visits you.

Jon

Barb, just want to say that it's easy to give advice in retrospect, which was mine, but caught in the moment , sharing gestures are sublime but then, at leisure sometimes regretted. BTW, that's a beautiful June Fever.