Awesome August Order...from Hosta Choice
In the spring, Jo and Vanessa shared their purchases with us having visited Hosta Choice Nursery in Appin, Ontario. They were lucky enough to be able to visit Glen's tranquil oasis in person and thoughtfully posted numerous shots of the terrific hosta beds for those of us who reside further afield to admire (which we promptly did - see links below).
http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3175420/hosta-choice-gardens-june-2015?n=13
Whilst I wish that I too, could spend a few hours wandering, perusing and purchasing wonderful plants in the same manner, thanks to the option of mail order, I am still able to secure lots of Glen's gems!
The plants below comprise my third order this year, and I should make it clear that Glen had advised me that many of the plants are not looking their best (a combination of frost damage in the spring, bug bites, sunburn etc ). Being late August, this didn't deter me in the slightest, since I'm primarily purchasing these ones to enjoy next spring. It's what's downstairs (roots) that counts the most!
Anyhow here goes.
Buckle your seat belts!
Posted Monday, the treasure box arrived in Vancouver this afternoon (Fri.) and was quickly opened to reveal...
It should be noted that Glenn always does an excellent job of packaging - taking great care and pride in his work.
Then began the voyage of discovery! - basically unwrapping, and plonking the plants in the bath.
First up, Sahara Nights - created a great first impression.
Wasn't totally sure about this one, but am glad that I included it after all - it's like a greener cousin of Marrakech!
Have been eyeing Sky Dancer for a while now - it just never made the cut before. Not sure why I delayed so long!
The last to be added into the order, since I only came across it a few days before finalizing, was... Winter Frost.
Bought Shimmy Shake in the spring. This one's by the same hybridizer, and I love it - Stir It Up!
Tequila Sunrise - a medium sized upright, with lots of ripples - ticks my boxes! (being a vibrant yellow in the spring also gives it that wow factor!)
When Vanessa recently shared her fabulous Frisian Waving Steel, I admired her plant stating that I had one on order - Vanessa wrote back forecasting "You'll I'll love it" - I think she will be right!
Be back with more shortly.
BC
Comments (16)
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Those who ordered from Koi clematis sale
Comments (62)Hello Marquest and all of you other wonderful customers, I'm a little confused about if I should ship your plants because of your frequent traveling schedule. I've sent (yet another) email requesting permission to ship today. Again, my apologies that I've gotten off track with your schedule. I'll make sure to throw in even more freebies for your continued hassle problems. For most of us it has been a fun ride, my apologies that it has become such a pain for you. I'm down to about 10 orders to ship out today and we'll be 100% caught up. KGC had a business meeting and the 3 of us decided that none of us have the time to continue with Koi Garden Club operations online. As I said in another thread, we all work full time jobs this year because things didn't work out like we had hoped last year when I was working KGC full time. Actually it's more like the 3 of us all have different visions and expectations of what KGC was and the direction it was going. I'm shutting down the website sales pages and the eBay listings and letting KGC online go dormant once all shipping has been accomplished. The 3 of us are currently in negotiations for me, Jerome, to possibly buy Koi Garden Club online from Koi Garden Club, Inc. I've spent a full year plus developing the relationship with you folks and it kills me to see it going down the tubes. My apologies to those of you that have had to deal with the stress of the past month or so. Please rest assured that I personally am trying to make sure everybody is satisfied before the doors close completely (for the time being!) Incidentally, we will continue to honor the 2 year guarantee even after the doors are closed. I will honor all guarantee terms if I become the new owner, or if not we will be offering refunds for the full two years regardless. You have all been an incredibly supportive customer base and I thank you all sincerely for helping me to discover a new facet of my online dream and vision. Please watch for me in the future. Sincerely, Jerome...See MorePhotos of my garden - August 2011
Comments (12)Your JM maple.....what Rock Oak said. They are normally grafted and you will sometimes get sprouts from below the graft from the root stock. There are a few reason for JMs to be grafted. Growers have a better success rate for propagation with grafting, they can also graft onto a cold-hardy root stock so you and I can grow them! When they are grafted, they know exactly what variety the top graft is coming from so they are sure of what they will wind up with. Hope that makes sense. Just cut off anything below the graft union. I'm not sure if JMs are similar to tree peonies that are grafted, but if you don't cut off the growth from the original root stock with a tree peony, you run the risk of that plant taking over the "choice" plant. If you want to help the hostas along a little bit you could cut each leaf in half so it's not working so hard to keep the leaves supported and can put more energy to the root. I do this most of the time when I plant them in the heat of the summer. I really love the way you put the flower boxes on the bench. That is such a cute idea. Your house color is very similar to mine. I love the blue! And how nice of your neighbor to put up a fence! All the nice vines you can now grow up it. Is it the slope you are looking for ideas for long-blooming plants for? What are the specs? Full sun, dry, etc. I am a huge fan of the Fairy Rose. It blooms for me from June right into November with very little care. Carpet roses do the same as well. I also just put in a few 'Lo and Behold' butterfly bushes a couple years ago and am so surprised as to how long they put on a show. I'm very enamored with them. Don't forget about fall foliage! I assume you're from Ohio? You must get a decent fall turn there, no? A blank slate and free rock? A gardener's dream!! LOL!! I also was bored absolutely stiff when I was a child and my mom dragged me to the nurseries. It was almost like punishment to shop, weed and plant. It's funny how things turn around. I'm glad you can share your gardening addiction with your aunt, and us!...See MoreAugust Bloomers
Comments (11)mainerose, I have good luck with phlox 'David' that was bred for its mildew resistance. I have never had a spot of mildew on it. It is white and even a bit more later-blooming than other tall phlox. I remember one year mine bloomed all of Sept. Olalie Farms must be, by far, the premier breeders in VERY late daylilies. They have many varieties that don't even start to put up scapes until August. Each year I have been ordering a few of their very lates, which don't even start to bloom til early Sept. There are so few choices we have for bloom for late Aug., Sept., and into Oct. It's great that daylilies are now an option. The ones I've gotten from Olalie are in shades of red, pink, and melon. No, the hybrid daylies won't take over like the orange ditch lilies. Another late bloomer is Japanese anemone 'Honorine Jobert' (white). Most years this is blooming well into Oct. for me. Also 'Pamina' (pink), but this one's more vigorous and seems to have spreading tendencies. Here is a link that might be useful: Olalie daylies...See MoreMy "winning" order from In the Country Gardens!
Comments (24)Irish Luck and Kiwi Full Monty are both listed as Mediums. But as you can tell from Don Rawson's photo of Irish Luck, it is a very vigorous medium! And, Kiwi Full Monty is also a medium, and it is vigorous too. Therefore, I do not know what to tell you about locating KFM. Someone else who planted Striptease near their walkway had to relocate them because they outgrew the location, overwhelming the path. I think that thread is running around on the back pages of our forum somewhere. My plants in pots are easily adjusted to their growth and also easily hidden when they look ragged. I can move out to prominent spots the top performers. In that respect, I am lucky. But, eventually, if things do not go right, the lump under the rug where I sweep my mistakes gets to be mountain-TALL. :) Do you have ideas where it will go? Fill the bed as you intended and wait for KFM to make its move. Either it likes where you put it and grows like a demon, or it pouts and you move it. Personally, it has grown nicely for me with never a time it did not look good. I'm very pleased with all my Striptease family. Another one, as you can see in the family photo I posted above, that grows similar to KFM with that loose open look, is Yellow Polka Dot Bikini. Whether the two remain similar in form as they grow, only time will tell for me....Maybe I can cheat by checking photos of mature plants, eh....(only problem being, no mature YPDB is in the library photos)....See MoreRelated Professionals
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9 years agoGreat bunch! You're like a kid in a candy store. Your enthusiasm is contagious! Here is my Sky Dancer for future comparison earlier in the season.
9 years agoBernd, most of the time, we get a "lot of bang for the buck" but it all depends where we buy our hostas...but I really agree with your comments!!!! ;-)
BC, thank you for using our posts as a segue into your new introductions. I felt a thrill when I started to read your post, starting with the words Hosta Choice, then the photo of the opened box (heart raced) followed by pics of the hostas. Each word built the suspense until the finale, the reveal of potted hostas, read like a terrific book! I so enjoyed this voyage and I look forward to next year's sequel! Now, to the hostas....
Wow! They look absolutely wonderful (of course - they are from HC!) in every way and certainly Not the way you would expect them to look (even with Glenn saying they didn't look their best) at the end of August. Love your choices which are new to me with one exception. I am also partial to "movement" hostas with their ripples, waves, etc.. :)
Friesen Waving Steel jumps out at me as does Winter Frost. Both look like shiny ones...I will google all and check the HLibrary. I'll be following your subsequent comments re Sahara Nights also. A really nice and interesting order, BC!
The only one I have is Arctic Blast so I'll post two pics - one when new and how it looks today.
Thought I would add how it looked the following spring to tantalize your visual, lol!Today...but I need to take a new photo. Brb.
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Whoa, Donna! I am in danger of being further enabled!! Your Sky Dancer is gorgeous!
here is AB as of minutes ago...
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bchosta 8b west coast canadaOriginal Author