Hallson Gardens

Very nice indeed. Thanks for posting, we all need yet another beautiful hosta for our wish lists!

What a sharp looking hosta, and quite unique. Going on my 'got to get' list immediately! Outstanding growth rate as well, pretty easy to love this one.

Very nice, always love to see minis being used so beautifully. I do notice that your Cherry Tart has quite a different plant habit than mine, which is almost completely upright. Perhaps that's a function of being potted?

Don't grumble too much--if you can get that solid green piece out with some root attached, you now also have Goober, or something that can be reasonably called Goober.

Great Expectations is probably my favorite hosta, and it does have fairly specific requirements. I have 3 mature GE, the largest measures around 26 inches tall by almost 6 feet wide. The others are in more crowded areas and are a bit taller, but not as wide. I also have a half dozen immature GE, and...

I don't know what tests have been conducted on HVX to determine heat tolerance, but viruses as a whole are remarkably heat resistant. The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy virus, also referred to as Mad Cow Disease, will survive any temperature less than 1600 degrees. When they destroyed herds of inf...

I'm planning on making the trip, if I'm up to doing the drive that day. Had a blast at Roxie's last year, this sounds like every bit as much fun!

gljo--you aren't a stranger, you are a fellow Iowan and a forum member. The offer stands, and your hostas can stay here more than a year if necessary. As I said, there is plenty of room at the moment. I'm less than an hour and a half from Shellsburg, so not too far at all. If you are bagging in plas...

gljo--I have recently added a rather large new area to my hosta gardens, and most of it is not planted yet. Neither is it fenced yet, so the rampant deer population is an issue. However, if you are desperate for space, this area will probably accomodate all 400 of your hostas. You are welcome to pla...

I would consider a rare hosta to be one that is not commonly available commercially, and not easy to find privately. If there are more than 2 or 3 hosta nurseries that routinely sell the variety, even if their supply is quite limited, I would not consider it to be rare, although it could still be co...

Chris--Ventricosa grows like a weed in full sun, but loses it's beautiful dark coloration, much of it's ruffling, and the slightly matte finish as well. It becomes a fairly light, flat leaved green with no particularly distinguishing features, which is the polite way to say boring. Many of the very ...

I've had Spritzer for about 20 years, and it's an excellent variety. It will take everything from full shade to about 3/4 sun, and will hold it's color better in more light. Mine never gets much direct sun, but does receive lots of light in it's current location, and it's still showing very nice col...

I don't see any reason that Montana Macrophylla couldn't be grown in full sun if necessary. It will certainly take half a day of sun, which is what mine currently gets, and I will be moving it to a spot with 3/4 sun as soon as the new deer fence is finished. Montana Aureomarginata will take absolute...

Marlys--I'm the one who gave you the name. I've been saving it for one of my seedlings, but it was so perfect for your plant (given the situation) that I just had to suggest it. I'm tickled that you liked it enough to use it. For those of you who weren't there, Marlys brought a beautiful, large mult...

A sport is a sport is a sport. Also known as a rose by any other name is still not a hosta. Seriously, any change in a plant, from the roots to the leaves, can mutate slightly or greatly, producing a sport. Most sports are based on changes in coloration, color pattern, texture, size, or habit of the...

For those of you in the Iowa City area, Mark Zilis will be giving a free talk at the Iowa City Public Library on Sunday, February 8, from 2-4. Fair warning, it's going to be mainly a self promotion event, as his main topic will be his new book, but he will also discuss some of the newer hosta variet...

Great Expectations is probably my favorite hosta. I have three mature plants, which last year ranged from 31 to 33 inches tall, and 48 to 62 inches across. They would probably have a greater spread if they were grown as specimen plants, but all three are planted in large beds with somewhat pushy nei...

Current available date is now sometime in April. The best deal I've seen is from WebWalkWay, where the first 12 copies sold will be autographed by Mark, and the price is very good, especially if you live close enough to pick up the book when you hit her hosta sales. Shipping is indeed horrendous--$7...

I second the Fried Green Tomatos--it was my first thought form the description, and the pictures confirmed it. The flower is definitely a Plantaginea type, which is also where the fragrance is inherited, but Plantaginea has a medium to light green color and very little or no corrugation, while FGT i...

How about one of the Sum and Substance offspring? Sum of All, Sum It Up, Parhelion, and several others will all meet her specifications, and all are good growers that will also take quite a lot of sun. If she likes ruffled edges, either of the sports of Choo Choo Train would be great--American Icon ...