Pic of the Day--Bill Brincka

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Sep 07, 2007 12:28 pm

Hi All--Today's variety represents another example of clarity in the wonderful world of hostaholism. Opipara used to be a species that was reduced to cultivar status by Schmid that had a widely spread virus that sported (per Lemke) to a virus free strain or was cloned (per Zilis and Schmid) in Japan to a virus free strain that was imported to the U.S. by Bill Brincka (the man) who registered Bill Brincka (the hosta, not the man) even though if it is a clone it is genetically identical to Opipara which makes me wonder what is the point of registration.

I'm so glad that I have been able to clear that up for everyone. Other than that, the only confusion I have about Bill Brincka (the hosta, not the man) is about the size I can expect. Zilis lists a mature plant at 64x24 and since my plant has been growing in our garden since 1998 and, in spite of having been moved in 2003 from a very shady location to a spot that gets an hour or two of direct sun, and , with measurements over the last seven years of 24x14, 31x14, 28x12, 35x11, 32x13, 40x19, and 45x20 I am thinking that maybe I got one of those mystery strains of plants that will never get as big as they should whether they are called Bill Brincka (the hosta, which propagates by rhizomes, or the man, who probably propagates by some other method)) or Opipara, with or without a virus. The pix are from 2002, 2004, and 2007.

Please be prepared for a test on this material in the mid-term exam.

Tigger · Post by **Tigger** » Sep 07, 2007 12:36 pm

Nice story-telling, Hank.

I always thought Opipara/Bill Brincka had an attractive leaf color and sheen, but found the limpness (really) less attractive. Not sure if it's a slug magnet, but this one is certainly low on the turgidity meter. Is it one of those plants that can never get enough water? I wonder how it would do floating in Butch's pond?

Post by **Chris_W** » Sep 07, 2007 1:30 pm

As an underground, spreading plant the majority of the roots are rhizomes with fewer feeder type roots and almost no deeper roots. It might be native to wet regions, too, but that is just speculation based on other creeping hostas. Because of this underground habit it likes to be planted a bit deep (3 to 3 1/2" seems to be fine), plus this keeps the rhizomes a little cooler and prevents them from drying out as much. If the soil is compact that could prevent it from spreading wider than it could.

With this year's drought (3 rain showers from mid-April to mid August) our Bill Brincka did not grow as well as normal. I have a few pieces left, though, and plan to move them to the swamp to see if they hold up a little better there

newtohosta-no more · Post by **newtohosta-no more** » Sep 09, 2007 7:52 am

Just got this one from Hallson's this year. Yours is beautiful, Hank. But I gotta tell ya.....you better give me a head's up when that mid-term is coming up, so I can come back to this post and cram! There's no way I'm going to remember all that!

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Sep 09, 2007 3:07 pm

I know whatcha mean, Joan.....My head is spinning!

..

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Sep 09, 2007 3:45 pm

Yeah! What the heck was that guy talking about?

sownsew · Post by **sownsew** » Sep 10, 2007 12:06 am

....

HUH?

I think I'm going to be out of town that day...the day of the test... maybe at a funeral ...or called up to go to Timbuktu or ...
'Sorry, Charlie'

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 14, 2007 9:29 pm

MId-term? When? No one told me! Oh Dang! Well.....uh....any extra credit we can earn would be helpful? Is there a hosta I have

that you might want?

Whew! Just give me the 'F' now and I'll go hang my head in shame. Just so 'ma doesn't find out!

Next time, will you girls PLEASE TELL ME when I missed the note on this stuff! Wonder if I can fit all this on my palm?

VThosta/daylilylover · Post by **VThosta/daylilylover** » Sep 14, 2007 11:10 pm

Was Bill Brincka the first man ever to be cloned?

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 15, 2007 7:57 am

Oh goodness! Cloning men? Say it isn't so!!!!

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Sep 15, 2007 10:41 am

How do you think they got enough men for the song "It's Raining Men" Jane?

MollyD

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 15, 2007 12:01 pm

Triplets with camera tricks?

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Sep 15, 2007 12:13 pm

MollyD

Hank Zumach · Post by **Hank Zumach** » Sep 15, 2007 12:53 pm

Class!!! Class!!!

You are not paying proper attention!

We are not going to have a discussion of how men propagate and that is final.

(grumble, grumble, darn kids anyway)

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Sep 15, 2007 3:15 pm

Sorry Professor

We'll be good

MollyD

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 15, 2007 4:26 pm

MollyD, the teachers pet hey? Well!

Just don't know about that one girl!

And here, I was trying to think back to what we used to call the science prof in jr. High! Nearly had a brain sprain with that one! Ouch

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Sep 15, 2007 4:33 pm

Teacher's Pet? Nah! I was more like a small thorn

MollyD

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 15, 2007 6:23 pm

Thorns are good! They ususally come with good things above them

Just have to be more careful in being around them or wear long leather gloves

MollyD · Post by **MollyD** » Sep 16, 2007 9:04 pm

with Jane!

MollyD

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 17, 2007 10:51 am

Hallson Gardens

Pic of the Day--Bill Brincka

Pic of the Day--Bill Brincka

bill brincka