The June 2017 Version of My Hosta Walk (Back Garden)

6 years ago

A couple of Fortunei Aureomarginatas and huge Elegans lead you down the stone steps to the wood chip paths. There were a number of these, plus plenty of Royal Standard hostas, hidden under cedar hedges and planted willy-nilly on this property before my arrival 5 and a half years ago, although these pathways didn't exist. I've moved and split the hostas to suit, and of course, added a million more since.

Climax (planted in 2014) greets you at the fork in the road. She is surrounded by wild strawberries (not my doing) although I don't seem to ever get any strawberries. Either it's too shady for them to actually fruit, or the squirrels get them before me.

Clockwise from left: Pizzazz, London Fog, Blue Angel, Inniswood (planted 2013) are neighbors for the newly added Forbidden Fruit (2017).

At the boulders is Lizard Lick and Fortunei Albomarginata (with ferns and endless buttercups). Below the boulders clockwise from left is Parhelion, Awakening Angel, Striptease and Moonlight Sonata (planted in 2014 and 2015). You can see I ripped out dozens of buttercups between Moonlight Sonata and Striptease. It's a losing battle!

August Moon (2013) and Empress Wu (2012) share the spotlight with columbines. The groundcover is nothing more than a wild type of geranium "weed" called Herb Robert also known as Stinky Bob.

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stephanie_h12

6 years ago

Your garden is gorgeous! Pristine hostas, walking paths, big rocks - you have it all. : ) Just beautiful.

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mjean0714
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Beautiful! We recently moved onto a 1 acre property with about one fourth being wooded with pine trees. The previous owners used this area to dump pine straw from the 8 large pines in front yard, so there is about 15 inches of pine straw, cones and twigs. It's a daunting task to clear, but seeing your beautiful hostas garden gives me incentive. I'd like to make into a woodlands garden, with a trail, using ferns, hostas and other shade loving plants.
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hostanista
Original Author
6 years ago
Well mjean0714, it appears you have exactly what you need to get started. Just take a small section at a time like I did and before you know it, you will have your woodlands garden. You may run into tree root issues when digging a new hole but small adjustments (a little to the left or right) should work out. I too have about an acre and a half and this slope sits just beyond the fenced portion of my back yard. It was nothing but a spruce forest with weeds everywhere when I began clearing. It can be done. Good luck! And take lots of "before-during-after" photos. You will be amazed at the transformation as the years go by!
Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
6 years ago
Thanks for the tour, 'Nista, you've put a LOT of work into this but it's paid off!

Pieter
hostanista thanked Pieter zone 7/8 B.C.
Karin Black Cat
6 years ago
WOW! Very well done, that's a garden to dream of...
hostanista thanked Karin Black Cat
windymess z6a KC, Ks
6 years ago
Hostanista - your Hosta Walk just keeps getting more and more lush and dreamy every year! Beautiful!
hostanista thanked windymess z6a KC, Ks
Kristy MN (zone 4)
6 years ago
Gorgeous garden! And I am intrigued by the steps leading to it. I am always drawn by lines and paths...

In photo 2, in the middle right... is that Liberty? I think I need to put it, or something like it, on my list.
hostanista thanked Kristy MN (zone 4)
Esther-B, Zone 7a
6 years ago
Totally beautiful serene looking spot. And, NO stupid co-op managers trying to dictate what you can do. That is pure heaven.
hostanista thanked Esther-B, Zone 7a
hostanista
Original Author
6 years ago
Good eye Kristy Loth-Olson, yes that is a Liberty!
sherrygirl zone5 N il
6 years ago
So lovely and peaceful! Take a stroll and leave troubles behind, such nice work, Hostanista!

Sherry
hostanista thanked sherrygirl zone5 N il
sandyslopes z6 n. UT
6 years ago
Beautiful! Some of your hostas have gotten so big. It always look like you can take a cool walk about there. You're lucky to have well behaved ground cover (unless it's a lot more work than you're letting on :) I don't suppose you want to trade for my crazy a$$ Virginia Creeper that wants to cover everything including the trees. Yeah, I wouldn't either, lol.
zkathy z7a NC
6 years ago
Great space, handsome hostas. We're the trees planted to be harvested? Their planting pattern seems pretty linear. And in the second picture, what are those red balls on stems with no leaves?
sunnywood4bChazyNY
6 years ago
Love your garden, the HOSTAs look so happy and healthy. I have always liked all the ground cover.
hostanista thanked sunnywood4bChazyNY
koffman99
6 years ago
Ahhhh, peaceful, serene, a natural hosta hide-a-way tucked back into the woods where hostas seemingly grow wild along the paths of fallen pine.

Thanks for sharing, looks like a hosta lovers dream !
hostanista thanked koffman99
hostanista
Original Author
6 years ago
zkathy, no the trees were not planted specifically to be harvested but they were arranged neatly by the neighbour who donated/planted them well over 30 years ago. And those balls on stems are my FAKE ALLIUMS. They've been there over a year, even over winter. I just wanted to add a little quirky fun colour to that spot. They are actually aluminum foil balls covered with leftover wool and stuck on metal driveway marker sticks (painted green to look like stems)! Close up:

The June 2017 Version of My Hosta Walk (Back Garden)

stephanie_h12

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mjean0714

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The June 2017 Version of My Hosta Walk (Back Garden)

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