Hosta hunting on East Coast in April

[LadyFeathers]

I've inquired before about Hosta gardens and growers to visit while we travel. Great suggestions. They are marked on our "Hosta Atlas" and we will surely visit there during our upcoming retirement

Currently we are planning a trip for mid to late April and I would like some suggestions as we are heading to the East Coast. So, where shall we find those wonderful hosta gardens and growers? We realize it may be a bit early in the year to see alot.

Philadelphia, Washington DC, Baltimore...don't know where we will fly in and begin. At this time we are looking at visiting friends on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and driving west in Virginia and then into West Virginia. Maybe southern PA. Where the hosta gardens are will help with where to go.

Oh what fun. Our bucket list is full. Hard to believe when you've worked all your life that I've only got 12 weeks to retirement. Wheeeeeee!

Thanks in advance,
LadyFeathers

[Chris_W]

Congrats on your upcoming retirement Personally I don't know of the east coast hosta places, but mainly because I can never get away from my own hosta place. But hopefully you will get some suggestions from others.

Have fun!

Chris

[redcrx]

That actually sounds like a cavern trip - Skyline Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns, Crystal Caverns etc. there are about 10 along Interstate 81 in the northern part of Virginia. Crystal Caverns and Bridgewood Gardens http://www.bridgewoodgardens.com/cart/p ... ?pageid=11 are listed in the same town - but they have limited open time and I have never visited them (I did get to the cavern though).

If you are in Philadelphia then the gardens would be:
Longwood Gardens - the main hosta collection is past the conservatory near the children's garden.
Chanticleer -
Let me post a list I once made listing gardens in the area of Camden, New Jersey.
http://camden-21.rutgers.edu/mchugh/garden.html
I forgot about Ladew Topiary Gardens http://www.ladewgardens.com/just north of Baltimore and off of Interstate 95. I have a photo presentation I never got around to posting. Lots of hosta especially plantaginea with seed pods looking like string-beans.

[redcrx]

Forgot to mention the obvious - Nation Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.govif you are in DC. There is also the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens - no hosta but it's "right around the corner" from the Nation Arboretum but it is a HUGE corner to go around http://www.nps.gov/keaq/planyourvisit/maps.htm.

[redcrx]

A couple more - I have never been to them though so I can't give reviews:

Viette's Nursery
http://www.inthegardenradio.com/v.php?pg=28
East of Interstate 81 and North of Interstate 64.
(I think Monticello would be near-by. Which means Natural Bridge and Natural Bridge Caverns are around there. Some nice places to visit.)

[Tigger]

Hey there, LadyFeathers. It sounds like a fun trip. Are you interested in shopping for hostas, or just visiting gardens that feature them? There are certainly some of each in the Philly area. You might consider a 1-year membership to the Hardy Plant Society (main chapter in Philadelphia at http://www.hardyplant.org. Your membership gets you a list of gardens whose owners are open to visitors on request. I know the list has a number of important hosta gardens, including many of those on the AHS convention tour in 2006.

David