The Other Handful of Hosta

Jean and I have safely made it to the Upper Peninsula and are set up for the Wild Blueberry Festival which opens in the morning. I'll begin showing you nice UP pix tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I was hoping to show you all the rest of my hosta, but I think I still missed one.

Here is one I've had a long, long time, but have no idea what variety. It was a freebie from Ester. It has never bloomed before, and I noticed just yesterday that it is getting buds. The sun was too bright when I took the picture. It's really more blue.

I really wanted to see this one bloom, and it's close, but only a stalk full of buds so far. It never has bloomed before. In fact, it's never been happy before. This is 'Krossa Regal.' It's the only variety I have that will get really big. I hope it won't outgrow this space. Look how tall that flower stalk is! I think it stays more vase-shaped rather than spreading wide, so maybe it will be OK.

This is the one I've identified as 'Blueberry Tart,' blooming.

This is Vulcan. It continues to struggle, but I suspect it will be fine in another year. I must have hit it with a tool in the early spring because it was fine last year. But as you can see, I've now marked where it is.

This is a success story only in that it has survived. I have no idea what kind it is, and don't much care because it's just plain green. But I stepped on it last year, more than once, so the fact that it's alive is good.

It's kind of a joke that several varieties of hosta I bought way back in the 1990s have completely disappeared, while some that wandered here attached to rootballs of other plants I was given have survived. That little green one isn't any of the ones I bought, and I also had a large green and white one I liked called 'Northern Exposure,' but the deer must have even eaten the root. It's totally gone.

Meanwhile, here's the other happy hosta story of the season. This is 'Loyalist' which was deformed in the spring because it was underneath a piece of wire fencing. But it's pretty much straightened out now.

I do have one other one and it's blooming, but apparently I didn't take its picture. Nothing special. Slim green leaves with a very narrow white margin. The flower is just a regular pale purple hosta flower.

So, that's 12 different varieties of Hosta, and I haven't really been trying. I think the only one in that collection that I bought for full price was the 'Loyalist.' It's also the one survivor from long ago.

I checked all the fences, and closed up my "gates" for while I'm away. Dumped fresh repellant granules in the chipmunk holes. Hopefully things will be in pretty good condition when I return home.

Let the adventure begin!

See A Handful of Hosta

One Handful of Hosta

Several of my hosta that have never bloomed before are doing so this year. Some of those are only in bud right now, but I hope to get a decent picture of each before I'm done.

Here are a few of them. This is the 'Forbidden Fruit' hosta that I got for ten cents. OK, OK, eleven cents. It's turning out to be one of my favorites just for the color and shape. And on top of that, the flowers are big.

Here's the whole plant with buds on a stalk.

And a closer view of the flower. Very pale purple. Almost white with lavender tinges. And the flowers are somewhat clustered.

Of course, hosta flowers don't have a lot of variety. The plants are grown mainly for their leaf colors. But that said, it's fun to compare. The 'Royal Standard' is a variety with big white flowers that really give a nice display, but the plants are much bigger than I want in my garden. But I've seen stunning borders with them in bloom.

Meanwhile, here is one of mine I have no variety name for. This is the bright yellow-green one I stole from a city planter quite a few years ago. When I found out they threw them all away at the end of the season, I no longer felt guilty for swiping a couple of leaves and a root. I now have two nice patches of it. It might possibly be 'Lemon Lime,' but there are so many similar proprietary ones, I can't be sure. The flowers are very typical.

I didn't zoom that picture in because you can see small dark green leaves behind the yellow-green ones. That is the 'Tiny Tears' hosta. It's blooms weren't spectacular this year, probably because the garden didn't get quite enough water while I was in NY.

But here is a picture of it from last year when it went nuts! The flowers are a deeper purple. Very nice. I have a border of it almost the whole length of the front flower bed. It spreads like crazy and I started with one small puddle. The flower stalks are only about 6" tall, and the mounds of leaves about 2" high.

I probably saw this one bloom long ago, but I don't think I have pictures. This was the first variety of hosta I ever had, given to me by my then pastor's wife. It's one of the oldest named varieties- 'Francee.' I had a lush strip of it along the house, but the deer ate it down to the roots several years in a row, which is tough even for a hosta. It's coming back, and a few of them bloomed this year.

Nice large flowers, although spread apart on the stem somewhat.

And the last for today, another one given to me that I have really no hope of identifying the variety. The flowers are typical. The leaves are a bright green with thin yellow edges.

There are several others in bud, so hopefully, there will be another handful of hostas later. Of course, the poor 'Mouse Ears' got chewed. I already showed you the bud. Maybe next year.

Feeling unhappy with my lack of exercise lately, I got myself out early this morning and walked 3.5 miles- roadwalk. I have to tell you that since the big NCT hike, I really have a hard time convincing myself to go do a road loop. But it was 66 degrees when I started and 75 when I finished. Not too bad.

The day was hot, but not as humid. I did all the usual stuff, and watered some of the gardens. But now I need to get the computer off my lap. It's just too hot!

Miles hiked in 2025: 310.6

See Poor Little Mouse Ears

Blueberry Tart?

I am too hot and tired to post anything very wonderful. I did OK at the vendor event. The heat is just intolerable.

So, this is the possible result of my search yesterday to try to find what variety of Hosta this is. It is smallish, has long pointed blueish leaves, and what turns out to be the key feature, long petioles (leaf stems).

It may be a variety called 'Blueberry Tart.' The only thing that doesn't fit is that variety often has a purple tint at the base of the petioles. I can't see even a tiny hint of that. However, everything else fits, and I can't find any other varieties shaped quite like it.

And, it's going to bloom, so you'll get to see it again.

I had to get groceries on the way home from the event. It's so hot... I had potato chips and ice cream for dinner. So there.

See Hosta and Heuchera

Poor Little Mouse Ears

My little 'Mouse Ears' hosta hasn't been looking very happy. I have decided it wants deeper shade. The place where I put it gets sun for a few hours a day which may be too much. Lots of yellowing leaves.

This is kind of a surprise, since there are two hostas very close by, but different varieties tolerate sun differently.

You may remember that I got this for free last fall because it had only two sad little leaves. But the root was fine, and here's what it looked like in May with its brightly-colored hosta friends.



Two weeks ago, it was even getting ready to bloom- nice fat buds. Then something bit those off, despite the fencing.

Today, I went by the markdown plant rack and found another plant that is the right height and size for that space. It's a 'Blue Chip' Campanula. I've killed a couple of these in the rock garden (long in the past). The rock garden has way too much sun for this plant, but I think the dappled sun where the 'Mouse Ears' was should be perfect. It's not the best looking right now, but that's why I got it for only $3. It will stay low like this and contrasts pretty well with the nearby plants.

And the 'Mouse Ears?' I moved it into deeper shade, but it probably won't look nice any more this year. I think this variety doesn't do well with stress. When I got it last fall those two leaves fell right off, and all the yellowed ones now just came off when I moved it. I'm also not as happy with where I put it- it isn't showcased as nicely. But for now it will do.

I worked on things all day, although it seems like I should have been able to get more done. O well. I edited, I did computer stuff, I shopped for groceries and worked in the gardens some. Maybe I can get outside a little more yet this evening. I'm very close to finishing a weed-through of the rock garden.

See Foliage and More

Front Garden Report 2025- #2

None of the gardens is completely cleaned up since I got back from NY, but the front bed is close, and it looks pretty good.

I know I show you this view over and over, but this space genuinely makes me happy. And it proves that it stays colorful all season. The light is dappled. Sorry about that, but it does give you one more "look" of that space. I'm particularly happy with the purple Heuchera near the right edge just above the middle. It's called 'Electric Plum.' Interestingly enough, the other red-to-purple Heuchera were more colorful earlier in the season, but this one seems to glow even brighter as we get into high summer.

And just above center is the white hosta with green edges, 'Loyalist.' It was damaged earlier, but it's doing well now. On the other side of the walkway is one of the large 'Krossa' Hosta. Both of those are doing great.

The white Globe Bellflowers have been blooming for well over a week. They seem to be a little later than the blue ones which are now all done. They are also a little shorter. I'm not sure I'm in love with these, but they come up and bloom, so, hey...

This is the one week a year that I don't detest the Seven Sisters Rose. Enjoy it quick.

Moving to the east end of that bed, the poor Vulcan Hosta is really struggling. I think it will survive. I'm still not sure what made it so sad.

Here's another space that is making me increasingly happy. If you want to compare, it's the first picture in the east report below. The Astilbe is blooming, although not prolifically. The Japanese Fern bit that I moved there (just left of center) is very happy. It's gained several fronds already. The 'Wiggles and Squiggles' Hosta is wonderful, and the dark purple 'Season's King' Heuchera is great. Way in the back, a 'Francee' Hosta is in bud.

Today was unbearably hot. But I got myself moving while it was still in the 70s, and got some outside stuff done. Edited before it got too hot in the house, and then went to the air-conditioned store for groceries. After that, I lolled in my chair with a book and iced tea.

Tonight it's supposed to rain, and be much cooler tomorrow. I'm hoping to get a good amount of outside work done. My energy level is good when it's in the 70s. Not so much above that. After 90, forget it!

See Front Garden West See Front Garden East

Front Garden Report West 2025- #1

I am SO happy with the way this garden is turning out that I go outside probably twice a day just to look at it (in addition to any work I do).

First a couple of real success stories. I already showed you the painted fern this year, so I'll skip that picture for now. I've compared its picture with some old ones, and I think my attempt to spread it a bit last summer was successful. Maybe I'll be brave and try to move a piece. I hold my breath every year that it survives where it is (it should be too hot for it there).

Another real success is the 'Firefly' Heuchera that Margaret gave me two years ago. I split it into three plants and they have all grown and look great. One is dead center in this picture with the two-toned green leaves and the bright pink flowers. It's the only Heuchera I've seen that has flowers worth mentioning. They are mostly grown for the foliage. I love how the cool green contrasts with my several colors of darker Heuchera. The one behind the flowers is 'Electric Plum.' Down front is 'Amber Lady.'

Another success that makes me really happy is that the 'Cathedral Windows' Heuchera that I bought in 1995, and has never been anything beyond tiny and barely alive since then, is actually grown up and looking great. Maybe I can stop holding my breath to see if it will reappear each year.

This was a plant I bought just last fall at the Garden Club sale. Columbine 'Winky.' It's covered with buds. It's not as tall as I thought it would be. Maybe I'll move some to the middle after it gets established.

Here's a surprise. The Iclandic Poppy 'Spring Fever Mix' is blooming again. It has this flower open and five more buds. I'm a little sorry I bought this. It is beautiful, but when I read about it, I learned that it's a short-lived perennial, so it only lasts 2 or 3 years. I wonder if it self seeds?

I'm the one who managed to damage this hosta. I had a piece of fencing sitting right over where it needed to come up. It's on the mend, thankfully. I bought this in 2000 for full price. It's one called 'Loyalist.' Looks like it will recover pretty well this year. It was one of the plants that more or less disappeared over the years I didn't weed anything, but it has reasserted its right to be here.

That's enough garden talk for today.

I spent most of the day getting food ready for the Adirondack hike. There is one store run in the future, but I don't need to buy very much. Mostly, I can use up things I already have on hand. Some gardening and yard work.

See Front Garden East- 2025 #1

Front Garden Report East 2025- #1

This post will get long, but I want to get all this documented. Browse until you get tired of pictures.

I sure never thought I'd get the east end of this flower bed looking this good in only a couple of years. Due to the birthday money this year, and a bunch of free and marked down plants in the past couple of years, I've been able to fill it in fairly well. But I need to remember to take pictures earlier in the afternoon when the light isn't all dappled like this.

This is the east end of the east side.

Here it is from a lower angle with the lily of the valley patch (that is really outside the garden) behind it.

I've showed you some of these already this year. The blue is the Variegated Ajuga

The west end of the east side is a jungle. This is mixed up Globe Bellflower and the Dwarf Solomon's Seal. This is going to be a real mess to separate. I'll probably just rip out the plants that aren't in the section where I want them. This is what happens when you don't have a plan and you let two aggressive plants grow without control. However, I'm going to wait until the Bellflower blooms because it's already getting buds.

Now lets do a tour of some plants. Here you can see the 'Wiggles and Squiggles' Hosta I showed you earlier this year. It's really happy, and one leaf of the 'Forbidden Fruit' Hosta is on the right. Above that is an Astilbe (really cheap two years ago) and some tiger lilies (plant sharing with a friend last year). The new plant here is another purple Heuchera, 'Season's King' (reasonably priced).

If you look in the first picture above, you'll see a reddish heuchara encircled by the 'Mouse Ears' Hosta, 'Wiggles and Squiggles,' and 'Forbidden Fruit.' OK, I gave into temptation and paid full price for this one. It's another Heuchera, 'Carnival Cinnamon Stick.' I orginially put the 'Season's King' there, but it just needed something brighter. I resisted buying this one once, but the next trip to the store, it jumped into my cart.

Here's an unhappy Hosta, 'Vulcan.' It was another of my almost freebies two years ago. Not sure why it's so small. I don't seem to have any pictures of it from last year, so maybe I accidentally cut it off and it's just recovering. Now it's labeled so I can find it, and it should be OK in another year.

Mixed in with the old 'Francee' Hosta are two of the Allium I got at the Garden Club sale last fall. They are healthy, but I don't think they are going to bloom this year. That's OK, they'll be a nice surprise for the future. The 'Francee' is finally recovering from being chewed to the ground by the deer two years in a row.

Now let's talk about lilies. There are a couple of pathches of Tiger Lily that I was given last year. They seem to be healthy and growing, but they might not bloom this year.

This is the yellow mystery lily that I have no idea where it came from. One year it got eaten, last year it had three blossoms. It looks pretty good this year, but I'll probably miss seeing it bloom because of my hike.

I'm pretty excited about these. Can you see three lilies starting to come up among the 'Francee' Hosta? I got six bulbs for half price earlier this year. They are a variety called 'Landini.' I'll keep it a surprise what they will look like, and of course they may not bloom this first year. But I'm happy to say that all six came up. If they bloom it should be after I get home from the hike.

Finally, this is one spot of organization in the west mess. Last year I put in some of these small hosta near the front of the bed. I have no idea what variety these are. I think they came from Ester. They don't match much of anything in pictures I peruse. They stay small, and the leaves have narrow yellow edges. They make a nice border (you can see the black edging along the front of the photo). Oh, I guess I didn't catch it in the pictures, but last year I spread more of the 'Tiny Tears' Hosta to the very front of this edge as well, and it's spreading nicely.

That's plenty! But I did get a pretty good record of the work done.

I mowed all the grass up here on the hill. I'm not a super lawn-care person, but I have to say that it looks pretty nice mowed as opposed to the mess it's been a lot of years. Also did the computer tasks, blah, blah. Quite productive, and the mower is good conditioning for my core since I still don't have the seat modified. Tomorrow I play.

See Front Garden Report 2024 #3

Garden Surprises

I keep having wonderful garden surprises. It's amazing what roots turn out to be still alive if they have a few years of weeds being kept in check.

I'm really happy about this. It's a large vase-shaped Hosta called 'Krossa.' I bought one years ago and it got moved several times and I thought it was dead. But I thought I found a bit of it last year and moved it here to the front bed. It seems to be very happy. AND- there is another one that must have hitchhiked with some plants from Ester.

This is in the rock garden. I thought it had all reverted to pink and white, but there seems to still be some of what it was purchased to be. It's a moss phlox called 'Candystripe.' You can easily tell why.

This is a really nice surprise. I thought all of these had died out. This is pheasant-eye narcissus and the bulbs came from the home where I grew up. This will need to be moved, but that's easy enough.

The last surprise is a surprise only because I didn't think it would bloom any more this year. This is the damaged sea thrift 'Morning Star Deep Rose' that I got cheaply. It still has the two blooms that were there when I bought it three weeks ago, but it also developed another flower!

I had good energy today and did a lot of tasks both inside and out, although it's never enough! The lawn needs mowing again, and I HAVE to make the mower seat better before I do that again. That may be tomorrow's project.

Maybe I'll even go out and weed for 15 more minutes right now!

See Almost Surprises