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Overnight hosta trip to Toledo/Michigan area

8 years ago

Our hosta group is starting to plan an overnight hosta tour and we are thinking of the Toledo and lower Michigan area. Some stops would be Hidden Lake Gardens and the Toledo Botanical Gardens. My question would be does Ken_Adrian open his garden up for tour groups and what other garden attractions are in the area that would be worth stopping at? Thanks.

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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

A very small sample of the Wilkins gardens during a 2012 Conifer tour....

...you would not want to miss a chance to see it.

Conifers and hosta, my two favorite landscape plants.

tj

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Comments (14)

stoc zone 6 sweden
8 years ago
Wow! I grew up in Toledo.Just found this on the Blade's website. The old west end has some spectacular old mansions and then I would recommendhttp://www.toledoblade.com/Gardening/2015/06/15/Perennial-tour-features-10-gardens.html a trip to the Toledo Museum as it is one of the top 10 museums in the country.
stoc zone 6 sweden
8 years ago
Whiteford Greenhouse has a really nice hosta selection.

http://www.whitefordgreenhouse.com/whitefordgreenhouse.com/Welcome.html
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oh my .... what have i gotten myself into.. lol ...will have to ponder this.. garden tour season.. in MI.. is usually the first two or three weeks of june ... [that is when all national conventions are usually scheduled] .... just thinking out loud.. maybe you all could meet at hidden lakes in the morning ... tour their hosta hillside and conifer collection ..... have a picnic lunch in their conservatory.. [actually the picnic benches just outside it] ..... right near their bonsai collection ..... perhaps i would come join you for lunch.. and then lead the herd here .... and then wagon train over here.. its about 15 minutes away .... and be on your way out of dodge in later afternoon ..????? wonder if steve who runs HL has anything to offer a group such as this .... hhmmm ..... i will keep pondering ...i dont mind opening the garden ... but i am not going to be 'in charge' of all this .... other than to make suggestions, as i am local to your destination ..... ken ps: it appears suzy has studied the 'contract of attendance' very well .... lol ... 'A plus' work there.. lol ...
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there is a woman.. just west of hidden lakes on m50 .. who sells them as a backyard biz ... and has something like 500 varieties ... but timing is VERY IMPORTANT ... as seeing 500 kinds w/o flowers.. is about as useful as visiting a hosta garden in a snow/sleet storm.. BEFORE they come out of the ground.. lol ... email me and i can give you her phone number ... ken
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To everyone: Thank you for all of the feed back and trip tips... GREATLY appreciated! Quite a few other people recommended that I visit Ceder Point when I was living in Michigan, but I never got around to going... we'll definitely try to make it there, especially since we've decided to add a few more days to the trip. We don't want to be in a rush the entire time. This is, afer all, our vacation. I'll add Put in bay to the list as well. Bonebloodyidle: I couldn't tell you how many times I've driven a long distance, only to turn around and come back home the next day. My jaunts to New Orleans (which is a 700 mile one-way drive) are usually no more than a weekend long... leave home Friday night after work, arrive in New Orleans on Saturday morning and leave Sunday afternoon to return home for work on Monday morning. There have also been many trips that had no destination... I'd just drive until I decided that it was time to turn around and head back. I've actually done that a few times recently on my days off, now that fuel prices have come down. Gives me a chance to be alone, unwind and think. Casey: Is your car the 4 or 6-cylinder engine? I have the 4-cylinder... but it moves the car quite well with the i-Vtec, dual over head cam and 5-speed automatic combo. I have no problems merging into highway traffic or passing someone at highway speeds. The engine is only running at 2500 rpms at 75 mph. No timing belt to replace, either... although I will have the chain and chain guide inspected at the 120k mile shceduled tune-up. What is the mileage on your car and what problems (if any) have you encountered? I'm at 61,000 on the 06 and it's only been back to the shop for basic maintenance so far. Gas mileage has actually gradually increased along with the mileage. My best average so far has been 38 mpg on the highway.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
sorry.. not my place ....

what about hallsons .... its about a half hour beyond hidden lakes ..

what is the name of your group .... from where????

does anyone know the wilkins???? .. they are halfway between hidden lakes and hallsons ...

is this a bus trip????

ken
Triott
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes this would be a bus trip. Our group is Daffodil & Hosta Society of Western Pennsylvania. Hallsons would be a good stop.
garyz6ohio
8 years ago
You would not go wrong or be disappointed if you would stop at Rosewind Gardens near Osseo, Michigan, Large selection of hostas artistically displayed and not far from Hidden Lakes and Hallson's. It's a nursery specializing in perennials, hostas and unique shrubs and trees.
Triott
Original Author
8 years ago
Sounds good. They don't have a web site, though.
mkpearse (MI z6a)
8 years ago
Hidden Lakes is a great place. We go there just for the hostas and can still spend the whole day. Love that place
garyz6ohio
8 years ago
No, they don't have a website, its a great couple that run it. Their phone number is 517 523 3246 if you care to contact them and make arrangements with them. Their names are Steve and Sue Kovacs.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
i find it hard to believe.. that none of you have ever been to hosta college ... and not know jim or sandy wilkins ,....

i am sure the past AHS president is in the ahs database ...

do not miss the opportunity to call them ...

ken
Triott
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks so much for posting the pictures. Yes it does look like a place to visit as I agree...hostas and conifers.
josephines167 z5 ON Canada
8 years ago
Tj, those are beautiful pictures - of beautiful grounds and gardens. Thank you for posting them!
hostahosta
8 years ago
Don't know if this is too far south for you, but Wade and Gatton is fantastic. Hostas plus other plants. Lots of daylillies. Nice gardens to wander through, plus retail. In Belleville OH, off of 71.
Triott
Original Author
8 years ago
We did that trip in 2011. Yes that was a great stop. Wade took us on a personal tour of the place.

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