Garden visitors

[Linda P]

I just spent a wonderful afternoon with Marlys, her daughter Robin, and Connie. We walked around the garden, and had a good time together.
They just left to head for the Midwest Regional Convention in Champaign.
I didn't take any pictures; my camera needs new batteries, and I keep forgetting to get them!
It's always great to spend time with forum friends.
Linda P

[renaldo75]

So you & Marlys finally connected - that's great!! Glad to hear that they're on their way to Champaign. I'll be heading that way in the morning. Should be fun!!

[mooie]

Is that this weekend???? I was thinking it was Fathers Day weekend! Let me know! I'm only 40 miles from there! I can use a cool coupla days!

Teresa

[Linda P]

http://www.illinoisprairiehostasociety. ... ternet.htm

[renaldo75]

Come on down, Teresa!! I got here this evening. Had a nice time at a couple of the tour gardens for a presentation they were doing. Lee told me they are still charging the original fee and not the late/higher fee. There's a buncch of us Hallsonites here already. It'd be great to finally meet you since you're so close.

[mooie]

Hey Renaldo, I'm heading down in the morning to check the whole thing out! Is there an entry fee to get into the convention? Wow, this is so cool. Trust me, I will be there and wearing something Illini! Hope you see this and can still read tonite so I have an idea of how much $$ to bring!

Teresa

[Noxtra]

Won't post people pics without permission but here are some pics from a garden or two. Lots Most attendee will be gone in the morning on the bus tours but the leaf show might be open also vendors are to be open.......

Lee

[LucyGoose]

How cool Linda!! I love seeing forum friends!!

Lee.....great pictures!!

[Linda P]

Great pics, Lee! I don't know how you people are going to have any fun without me.....
It turns out that, as much as I wanted to go, and as tempting as the offer was by Marlys and gang to just scoop me up and take me along, it's a really good thing I stayed home.
My almost-91-yr-old Dad had some problems early yesterday morning and I had to take him to the doctor. He's okay, had to get some new breathing meds, but he was really scared.
If I hadn't been here, the panic might have gotten out of hand and made things much worse. I'm pretty sure he'd have ended up in the ER if I hadn't been around to talk him through it.
So, I'm missing out on the fun, but it's all worked out!!!
Can't wait to see more convention pics!
Linda P

[mooie]

Well I got there and am back home already! It was very quiet in there, being that most everyone was off on the garden tours. That has it's benefits because I got to see what a cut leaf show looked like and how they were presented as well as some unusual beauties. I saw that our very own Reldon placed many times with his entries! Way to go, bud!

There was one entry of H. Filagree that won a top spot, that really caught my eye and another lady's also that was browsing around. Stunning. I know people feel it 'could' be diseased, but I can also see the attraction. Just because it's so different.

However, I was slightly put off by a rather pompous sounding gentleman in there who was literally ripping each hosta that had won it's class and then proceeding to show *his* leaf and why it was better. His comment to the lady to whom he was speaking down to asked about the filagree and he said 'oh, do you really want something like that in your garden?' My thoughts were that if she really liked it, knew the risks and had a spot for it, then what business was it of his?

On to the vendor show where there were many fine healthy plants on display. I only purchased one hosta, Pixie Vamp, but it's a cutie mini! Bob and Nancy were out on the tour, and the only ones to have the plant there, so I asked the peeps in charge if I could give them the money for it and they could pay B & N when they got back in. They looked like they had honest faces! They did so off I went with my prize. They also had some extremely nice dwarf conifers at another booth and I had to part with a few $$ to bring them home also. Got a Silver Show Abies, and a Bermans Snowflake Hemlock. These were all put in a row with all my other potted plants waiting to go into the ground if my siding every goes on. So far, waiting for their new home, I have the above, a Viridis Jap maple, Autumn Moon Jap maple, a crimson frost birch and countless potted heucheras and other perennials. In addition to the 200 + hostas also waiting. I reallllllly need to stop now!

But of course not! I passed the Farmer's Market on the way to the hotel! Had to stop there too! Good thing I didn't have much money left cuz I only came away with a hanging basket and could only afford a pepsi for lunch on the way home!

Glad I went, but sorry I didn't see any Hallsonites while i was there. Well I did see Josh at his stand. I didn't introduce myself because I didn't think he'd know who I was.

Think I need a nap now.....

Teresa

[Linda P]

Teresa, I'm so glad you got a chance to see the cut leaf show. There's always someone who disagrees with the judges, but I never let it bother me. I haven't ever exhibited, maybe one of these years. Glad to hear that Reldon got some ribbons!
I do wish you'd had a chance to meet some of the Hallson folks there. They're a great bunch! Lee (Noxtra) has a booth there, so maybe you met him and didn't know it. Josh would likely have recognized your screen name...I don't think he ever forgets any of them!
Sounds like it's time for those siding people to get that job done so you can get to planting!
Linda P

[renaldo75]

I'm glad you made it down, Teresa. Sounds like you enjoyed yourself. Wish we could have timed it so we met. The 1st bus was back to the hotel by 2pm. And Lee/Noxtra was there all day Saturday. He had lots of Japanese maples & basket gardens & conifers.

[mooie]

Oh! He was the one over in the corner racking up the sales when I was there! He had some awesome stuff! I had already blown my wad by then so I couldn't participate in his register ringing!

I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up too. I'm an early day person and since there was no one around to entice me to stay, I did my thing and moved on to whatever else was going on. It was a very cool event and I am glad I went!

Teresa

[Marlys]

Hey! you all!
Teresa - You must be shy! Josh loves to meet new friends. All Hallsonites are 'Hosta Family'.
Wish we would have been able to meet but the tours are my favorite part of the convention.
What's better than riding around on a charter bus with great hosta friends, talking, laughing, & nothing to think about except beautiufl plants & gardens.
And I got to sit in the very back seat with Reldon /Renaldo the famous one now that he won so many blue ribbons in the official cut-leaf show.
His 'Popcorn' leaf won best of class!!! Congratulations good friend

Our visit with Linda P was my daughter's favorite part of the trip & really mine too.
Thank you Linda for sharing your home & garden with us.
It was wonderful to finally visit your little piece of paradise.
I cherish our time together.

I'll try to post pictures but resizing is difficult for me yet.

Jim / Mr. Hienz also had entries in the cut leaf show and got blue ribbons.

Connie won the trough garden Josh donated to the silent auction.

There were tons of great plants / hostas & other awesome plants for sale in the vendor room.
I brought Ron a tiny dwarf conifer that is hardy to -20 F and grows to 2.5' tall by only 10" wide in 10 years. I also got an really cool dwarf holy & another really beautiful holy-like plant with the most awesome variegated foliage.
New hostas: the convention plant H 'Prarie Sumshine' (yellow sport of Sum & Substance), H 'Candy Dish' from Josh, H 'Marbled Cream' won in the auction. And Connie and I won H 'The Wind Blew' bidding together. Also found my new favorite trailing coleus plant in 3 varieties. It's awesome even if it isn't a hosta. Also a new succulent that I love.
What a great vacation.
And the time with my daughter Robin was priceless.

Put the 2010 Midwest Convention on your agendas. It's in Des Moines, IA hosted by the Russ O'Hara Hosta Society & Russ' garden is slated to be a tour garden. Also the giant tree house garden in Ankeny, IA will be on the tour. http://www.treehouseadventure.com

Thanx! again, Linda-Lou.

MM

[Linda P]

Wow...sounds like just a great time, Marlys...but then again, it always is!
I'm glad you enjoyed your visit here.
Can't wait to see pics of the convention!
Linda P

[renaldo75]

Thanks, Marlys & Teresa - I did get some blue ribbons on leaves, but just as many reds, and a few others too. Jim had at least a couple blue ribbons that I saw and so did Josh. I thought their leaves looked better than anything I had. But it's fun and continues to be a learning experience for me.

So Marlys sitting at the back of the bus talking to me wasn't your favorite part of the convention??? I'm hurt.....

The treehouse garden isn't the one in Ankeny. I believe it's in Pleasant Hill on the east side of Des Moines.

It was a fun convention. I talked to people I've seen but never talked to in the past other than to say 'hi' in passing. And Bob Solberg actually started a conversation with me. I'm still amazed by that... I enjoyed it all. Wish more of you could have been there.

But you can shoot for the 2010 in Des Moines next year. I've just told this to a few people, but I'll throw it out there now. I'm going to be moving most of my garden to a friend's yard in Ankeny, IA and the current plan is for it to be one of the tour gardens. Bermed house you can't see from the street unless you know where to look, mature trees, a creek running thru the back of the property. And it's tucked away in a subdivision that looks like any other. It's just a very neat location. There was a bridge across the stream to the back of the lot until a few years ago when high water finally took it out. It's a perfect setting for hostas. But it will be a major undertaking to get mine moved up there. I've been working on the project for a couple of months now on weekends. I'll need to ramp up my efforts after the national convention is over.

And Marlys, would you please tell Betsy that I have her red cap that she'd worn to the restaurant yesterday morning. The waitress discovered it after you were gone for about 10 min. And I realized then that I didn't have any phone #s for you or David or Connie. I'll get it to her the next time I see her - ROHS summer tour probly?? - unless they're going to Lansing.

[Marlys]

Reldon:
Are you trying to tell me to wear the fox hat???
The red hat is mine but Robin was wearing it. She thought it she shouldn't leave it on in the restaraunt. I told her women could leave their hats on. the rule of taking hour hat off is for men. I was sort of wondering where it had ended up. Robin wears all my clothes cause I'm too plump to wear them myself.

It sure was difficult to go to work today. Mentally I was still gone on vacation. All I want to think about is gardenng and hostas. Wish I was going to the national convention now too.

I apologize for the posting the incorrect city with the treehouse info. It's all really just Des Moines any way. You gotta remember I am truly a small town girl.

I tried to post a pictures with Linda P but no luck yet. Too tired now. Bed-time!!!

MM

[renaldo75]

OK - I'll get your red cap back to you when I see you at the ROHS tour then. I never saw who was wearing it, but it was sitting up in that corner behind where Betsy was sitting so I thought it most likely was hers.

Going to work/plunging back into reality wasn't all that fun for me today either. But it had to happen sometime.

Just email the pic to me, Marlys & I can post it for you if you want.

[renaldo75]

Here is the pic Marlys sent me that was taken with her & Connie at LindaP's on the way to the convention. Looks like they were having a pretty good time.



And here is Marlys' daughter, Robin, and I at dinner one of the evenings of the convention. Looks like we were having a pretty good time too. Just don't show Carl.

[Marlys]

Reldon - Thanx for posting the pictures.
We did have a good time.
I didn't take my camera on the garden tour day as pouring rain was forecasted.
Instead it was near perfect weather with plenty of sunshine. No Rain at all

Reldon, you know when that commotion happened in the bus toilet-room & there we sat in the very back seats just beside the stinking pit. I just had to holler @ Connie to put her feet up. It could have been BAD!!! Just think if Lee would have been there.
And we all still live in fear of 'you know what' actually happening.

Sure wish I was going to the national with you.
But we will have a great time in Des Moines, IA @ the 2010 Regional Hosta Convention
Connie wants to go to the national convention next year too in MN.
And I will see you in July for the ROHS Summer tour / plant auction.
I am trying desperately to get off work for the Hallson reunion @ Roxanne's July 18th too. I put a note up @ work today begging for a volunteer to work for me.
Working weekends is the pits.
And then there will be our fall mtg too @ Iowa Arboretum.
And if you have any spare time on one of your Des Moines trips you could come visit 'Marlys' Garden'.
I have never made it to the Saturday morning Des Moines Farmer's Market yet either. We were invited to go with Betsy & David early this spring but I had to stay home to work in the gardens here.

Off to the state mtg of Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa in CR tomorrow.
Last year it was cancel due to all the flooding. Hoping there is not a re-run of that now with all this raining.

And the 'Sitting Pretty' chair contest that my local garden club puts on is tomorrow evening / Saturday morning. Everything always happens @ once.
I want to go to Josh's 'Hosta Ice Cream Social' Saturday too but haven't dared mention it to Ron yet.

Linda - doesn't seem like it's been over a week since we were together either. I miss you now.
Wish we could drink Peach ice tea together all the time. Maybe you can come spend a day with me yet this summer. I have an extra house. No bed but sure could get one quick.
Vacation time goes so fast.

We got 2.5" plus of rain last week. 2.2" of rain 2 days ago & another 1.5" last night with bad wind. My poor ligularia is all blown over.
More storms forecast for tonight & tomorrow.
The hostas are loving all the 'wet'. They are huge this year.
Today / yesterday - the heat & humidity is unbearable.
Good weather for Southern Blight / Crown Rot to set in.
Gardeners always have something to worry about.
Tell me again - why do we do it?

And Reldon - where is that picture of you & your prize-winning H 'Popcorn' leaf???

MM