Hallson Gardens

The last Hosta Hybridizers Group (HHG) meetings of 2007 will be held on Sunday, October 21st, at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ms. Rachel Soucek, HHG member and graduate student studying and researching genetics, will discuss “ Recombination ” in hostas—What it is and how it...

Just a reminder that the HHG meeting is this Sunday, in case anyone is interested in attending!

--John

Are nematodes typically present in many or most soils, and express themselves when the plant is stressed There are many different kinds of nematodes. Some live in soil and have no interest in hostas. Some specialize on specific plants. I think the one we're mainly dealing with is Aphelenchoides fra...

I'm pretty sure I'll be there, but I don't know about Emily... I'll see what fun things I can bring for the auction. Chris is providing a 'Tidewater'?

--John

There will be six plants of 'Monty Python' in the HHG auction on August 5th.

See this post for more info:
http://www.hallsongardens.com/forums/vi ... hp?t=45747

--John

He is also responsible for the last two registered names, 'Zydeco' (at least that's a real word) and 'ZZZZ, A Sleeping Beauty'. Ugh. Can you say obsessive? And can you believe that the registrar allowed such foolishness? Actually, I believe it's "Zzzz" with initial caps--the registrar refused the n...

From what I remember, it's a streaked sport found in TC from 'My Cup of Tea' (Elslager 02), which is a 'Sea Prize' x 'Maekawa' hybrid.

--John

2007 Hosta Hybridizers Group Meetings In 2007, Hosta Hybridizers Group (HHG) meetings will be held on June 3rd, August 5th, and October 21st. All dates are Sundays. See the schedule below for more details. All 2007 meetings will be held at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (MBG) in Ann Arbor, Michigan,...

Ever wonder what happens when you apply pollen to a hosta? At our August 5th meeting, Dr. Richard Gladon of Iowa State University will speak on the mechanics of hosta pollination and potential ways to improve pollination rates and seed set. All are invited! The August 5th meeting will also feature o...

Denise, My experience has been that it's really fickle about pollen. I've done lots of crosses on it that never took... Not sure if it's a ploidy thing or what. Just keep trying lots of pollen parents or make a pollen "cocktail" with your favorite pollen parents mixed together. If you have pycnophyl...

Nematodes are probably here to stay... Someday the only way to keep them out of your garden may be to not grow hostas (though they can live in other garden plants as well) or to live in a bubble! Just try to think of them like slugs, but inside your leaves. :evil: They can make the plant look ugly, ...

'Ogon Amagi' has bright, cherry red petioles and blooms rather early for me (August or so). The substance is OK, not super, but it is a very fast grower.

The species pycnophylla sometimes starts blooming in August too.

--John

That's pretty neat, Doug. Thanks for sharing!

--John

Bloody isopods! I hate 'em! I complained to a hosta list once about roly polys eating my hostas and they laughed at me! Everyone responded: "Oh you're mistaken, they don't eat hostas and it must be something else." Others told me that only sowbugs (which look similar but can't roll up into a tight b...

They all look great, Minnow!

--John

They all look fantastic, Kent. I especially love Ribbon Dancer and the hot little blue one!

You are the master of the wavy gene!
--John

Linda, From the pic, it looks like this may be a scape leaf, not a true leaf from the crown. Is that the case? If so, the scape leaves often do show lots of red, especially if the flowers and scape are quite red. Can you clarify where this leaf is coming from? And can you show a pic of the whole pla...

Thanks, Renaldo. I had forgotten about the online registrar database! :D I stand corrected on 'Arc de Triomphe' and 'Celestial'. It does look like they were registered as margined. It's strange that Ed's clumps of both at his house were streaked. Or maybe not since his aim was streaky breeders. 'Tee...

One concern I have... I believe Ed Elslager registered 'Arc de Triomphe' as a streaked plant and now it is being sold in the trade as a margined hosta. This has happened with many of Ed's plants, including 'Teeny Weeny Bikini', 'Celestial', 'Rhinestone Cowboy', and others. If someone has the AHS reg...

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

So sorry, Kent. Hope things look better in the morning...

--John