A few more...

Gold sport of FW

Whew! Are you still at 167? Fun to move pots around. I bet! You have a great selection of hosta. Dark Shadows and Sagae gonna be fighting for space next year.

DD, Whew! is right - this is just one area but predominantly the potted residents' area.lol

Since Sagae rules in that spot, I am tossing around a thought and that is to half it, and plant it to the left of DS, giving DS more visual exposure from the front. Just a thought so far.

DS, as you know from experience, Donna, just grows bigger and more beautiful leaves each year. It only got transplanted there late spring and seems very content there so I don't think I will disturb it. The colours and variegation are perfect to me.

Lol, yes I still have only 167 and unless I find something at the end of the season, I think I am content for this season. (Pots definitely demand more attention.)

I find inspiration in Mbug and BC's photos whenever I view them and try different combinations to find an "aha" moment....easier said than done! I will just keep moving them around - it's fun!

Holy cow!!! Really enjoyed your photos. Beautiful garden awesome hostas. Great job!

I still can't quite get the hang of incorporating potted ones into the landscape. Yours look like they absolutely belong just where they are. Perfect. You are my new hero!

Stolen Ability did catch my eye! Do you have a photo of its flowers?

Absolutely gorgeous! What more can I say?

All beautiful but love Dark Shaddows and Devon Green!

Kathy, after checking last year's photos I was surprised to find no flower shots. :(. It might not have flowered ? Will definitely look closer tomorrow to see if any are developing yet.

Mbug, it's all a bit much, I realize, but my plan is to find some winning combinations that are easy on the eyes. I have some very busy areas inside the planted areas but the staging isn't for design purposes...more to do with ease of watering and finding how much sun different hostas will take - without sunburn. (But your compliments hit the spot, thank you :-)

So happy you all are enjoying my riot of hostas! Thank you for looking, and for the lovely comments.

Your hostas are looking FAB-U-LOUS!!! All looking so healthy and full. I like your Praying Hands. I'm noticing how good that one can look and going to try and help mine out a little more because of fine examples like yours.

They ALL look great. Mine are a bit past their prime right now, so I really enjoyed looking at all of yours. I admire you can keep so many of them that good looking in pots. I won't whine to you about my attempts, lol.

I love you!! Maybe I 'm just overwhelmed from seeing your hostas. So pretty.

i expected to see a chair ... ken

So much to love here. I wanted to comment on several of the pictures. I love how so many of them are in bloom right now. I truly believe hosta flowers are under-appreciated by most gardeners. They have a lovely, subtle, woodland look to them.

I can't believe you have a volunteer heuchera! That's what more humidity will get you. It's gorgeous. Such a rich color and you are right, it's the color of a Japanese maple.

I'm in love with the minis right now, so Cherish and Pandora's box in one bowl caught my eye as did the prolific blooms of the Blue Mouse Ears.

I got Whirlwind last year and I hope she grows up to be just like yours.

I know there are other things I'd like to say, perhaps just "heavy sigh" will work. It's gorgeous. I could come sit there and enjoy the view. But I might be inclined to stay!

I know what else! I like the dark wood fence behind. It makes for a nice contrast. I have this horrible cream-colored vinyl fence, not my choice, it's mandated by the HOA. But when I see yours, I am wondering if I might be able to add a second inner fence that is dark like yours. My wheels are turning! That always spells trouble. If I had a husband, it would spell "honey do" list.

Popmama, you don't need a husband... but one would certainly cut the "honey do" list down to nothing - maybe....;-) - you just need two hands...one to hold the stain, the other to paint with, like I did, lol. I still have the gates to finish and the entire length behind Sagae. Started staining near end of May, called in the beauty brigade (my three daughters) to assist with the uppermost part, but too many very hot days derailed that project for awhile. Nice thing about it, I do a bit here and there, in the late afternoon in some shade, for the rest of the summer.

I so agree with you - the dark background really makes plants pop! Colour is Ebony...the closest to black I could find. My inspiration? A photo I saw when I googled "black fence" - gorgeous! See if the HOA will permit the liner - I have seen live screens in the form of cedars, Morning Glory vines (fast annual grower) clematis and various wood structures that act as liners to cover chain link fences.

Loved your comments, thank you. I am so glad my photos brought you pleasure. :D

Jo, can you tell me what soil you use for potting your hostas, you have just given me the bug, I'm going to try it and see if I can make it work for me. Thanks

Eleven...I laughed out loud with delight at the way your comment burst out! Thank you so much for enjoying my hosta photos. :D

Ken, the recliner I was on from where I shot the photos was just out of the frames, lol.....I did have to get up for some though.

Sandyslopes, thank you. About Praying Hands...I didn't care for the look of the plant up to last year. Then I decided I had to have one to complete the Hosta of the Year list that I as working on. Seeing this plant in person changed my mind completely...how could I shun such an unusual but popular hosta? It is evident to me now that it is very deserving of the HOTY Award! I hope to plant it soon to decrease slowly the number of pots I have to take care of. It doesn't want for much - water and a bit of sun for flowers is all it gets. Hope yours brings you pleasure also. :-)

Sally, I'd be happy to! Very easy recipe:. MiracleGro potting media/perlite/bark fines...I keep changing the proportions (usually 3-5:1:2) depending on the amount I am mixing but if it feels light and fluffy, and drains quickly when I water it..then it's perfect. Good drainage is the number one factor to successful pot growing. ;-). When I can't find bark fines, I pick up Orchid Mix instead. Downside to that is that bags are small - can get expensive for large number of pots initially.

There are some excellent threads available here which is how I started out. I ventured into potting some three years ago and enjoy it but for the watering. Except for rainfall, the hostas don't get watered from overhead...which is why it takes me hours to complete the chore - but I am retired so I have the time.

I hope you enjoy your potting experience! Start small and build up if you find you like it. Over-wintering is another aspect to pot growing. Have fun reading - I will look for the threads and insert them here shortly. Container grown, Potting mix.

Absolutely gorgeous and certainly a great place to relax as well and what must be mandatory rest after a hard days work.

Jon

Thanks and Right on, Jon!

Whoa, Jo, I missed somewhere along the line that you have most of your hosta in pots. I wish I had enough room to store that many pots in the winter. I have 8 pots and thought I was pushing the limits, lol! It all looks so nice and relaxing. On average , how often do you water?

Sherry

Wow that is one amazing garden. Beautiful plants.

Just lovely. Thank you for sharing your piece of heaven.

Sherry, I just did a head count and out of 167 cultivars I think I have 102 cultivars planted (some 9 duplicates not counted) so that leaves at least 65 in pots..not including a couple of duplicates..more than I originally thought.

How often do I water the potted hostas on average? When the temperatures are in the 30's with winds, I have had to water pots that are more exposed every day or every second day depending on size of pot. But on average, I would say 2 good soakings a week.

Winter storage is not a problem here in the snow belt. I do have a garage, stored some the first winter but lost some anyway so for me, they are safer outside, laying on their sides right against the fence line or against the sides of the house where they get ample snow cover. Snow is such an excellent insulator. Losses are very minimal to none now - Fire and Ice rotted this spring - why I will never know....it was fabulous last summer. By the way, Potted hostas in our zones do not need to be stored/housed specifically - outside is perfect.

Paula! How nice to hear from you! You will be happy to know that my Lakeside collection is growing :D thanks to you! I hope you are enjoying your summer. Miss seeing your posts and pictures of your beautiful hostas. :(. Have you added any new ones lately?

Absolutely stunning!!

I would love to sit and relax in your garden too! All your hostas are looking fabulous---I can't even pick out a favorite! One can see that you have put a lot of work and love into your garden. You've done a great job! Thanks for sharing your photos!

Thanks for the visual treat Jo... you have plenty of healthy, happy hostas to share with us. Especially like the combination of Cold Heart in front of Queen of the Seas - nice contrast of colour between these ripply characters. Would love to spend some time perusing your complete collection - I wouldn't be able to stay on the recliner for long - I'd need to investigate!

BC

I see at least a couple of varieties of sedum in your pics. Have you had any volunteer crosses from them?

Thanks so much Jo

No, ConnieMay, I don't think I've noticed any unusual sedum seedlings but I will have a good look around. I have made more plants by sticking seed heads head first into the ground and getting new plants that way...same with a broken leaf (like starting an African violet). :)

You go, Jo. I see why it is you favorite setting.

tj