MICHIGAN

Hosta Happenings Online

The Newsletter of the Michigan Hosta Society
April 2017 Volume 18 Number 2

Message from the President,

The word Spring has such a pleasant sound and an even greater feel when it does arrive. It has such promise. Of course I start trying to coax it into being long before it actually arrives. I have seedlings and cuttings under grow lights that I started in February.
Hosta College 2017 just concluded and there were a number of outstanding presentations this year. I was in one that every serious hostaphile should have attended. Rob Mortko from Made In The Shade Gardens did a session on “Supply Chain Interruptions- The Future of Hostas”. With the recent demise of two of this countries hybridizers is the supply chain still intact? In a word, Yes but on a lesser scale. There will not be as many yearly introductions as in the past, and prices will be higher because the current active hybridizer/growers do not have the capacity of the two closed growers. There will Hostas and Rob showed slides of some great looking plants under development.
The Michigan Hosta Society has an active summer planned. Come join us on the hillside at Hidden Lake Gardens on May 20. After a year’s absence we will be back at MSU for our Leaf Show and plant sale on June 17. Ed Steinbrecher and the Southwest Michigan Hosta Society have an interesting weekend planned for us on June 24. We will be back at Hidden Lakes on August 20 for our annual meeting, work day, and Plant auction, and Sarah Dapra's “famous” Hot Dog Luncheon. Come join us at any or all of these events. If you don't know anybody when you arrive I guarantee that you will have several new friend and contacts when you leave. This is the friendship plant after all.

Grey Gitzen

Saturday, June 17 - MSU Plant & Soil Science Bldg.

HOSTA SALE - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM - There will be a great selection of plants including miniatures. All plants are $10.

HOSTA SHOW - 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Entry times:
Friday, June 16 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, June 17 from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM - Entries must be completed and submitted by 9:30 AM.
Entries should be washed, groomed and clean before bringing them to the show. Vases will be provided.
Instructions on preparing leaves for a show can be found here.
The Show will be judged between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Entries in Divisions I, II, III will be judged. The show area is closed at this time and will open again for viewing from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM.
Leaves and ribbons can be picked up between 4:00 PM and 4:30 PM.

Spring cleanup at Hidden Lake Gardens is so important. Come to the Hillside on Saturday, May 20. Work with your fellow Hosta folks and you may get to meet a new friend! Be sure to bring your favorite tools and ‘stable’ shoes for working on the Hillside.
Following is the day’s agenda:
9:30 – Check in and get your work assignment.
12:00 – Break for lunch.
Sloppy Joes, chips and drinks will be provided. If you would like to bring a dish/dessert to share, that would be great.
1:00 – Guest speaker presentation – ‘Invasives and Invasive Plant Monitoring’.
Gerry Donaldson, the Horticulture Manager at Hidden Lake Gardens, will be our speaker. This is a topic of concern for all of us gardeners! Gerry will address our questions.
2:00 – We will have a ‘ticket auction’ for donated hostas, other plants and garden items. Costs will be $5.00 for 20 tickets. Since this is a Michigan Hosta Society’s major source of income, please consider donating an auction item!
After Gerry’s talk, there will be an MHS Board meeting.