Well, the votes are in, and it turns out that the hosta of the year for 2011 ended up being Praying Hands!
A bit of a surprise to me, really, since it is a bit of an oddity and not quite so "mainstream" as other HOTY, but I also think this one needs some time to mature in the garden to really be appreciated. Here is Praying Hands in our catalog: http://www.perennialnursery.com/catalog ... hands.html
Here is a picture of Praying Hands in Lucygoose's garden
I agree Chris. Praying Hands is a bit out of the norm for HOTY. I am surprised, but not displeased. PH is a great hosta and adds some interesting lines when placed 'just so' in the garden. I really like it and I sure do sell a lot of them. So I guess that says that so do many other people. But I can understand why it wouldn't be for everyone. That's what makes us all so cool... we are all so different... both people and hostas!
I'm kind of surprised, too, but not becasue I don't like the hosta. This one IS a little outside the 'norm'. It's been a real winner in my garden. Last year when my garden was on the local garden walk, that one hosta drew more comments than any other. There were just a few people that knew it was a hosta; everyone else asked what kind of plant it was.
This pic of mine doesn't show the form at all, but you can get an idea of the size after 5 years. It's very special to me because it was a gift from Jane G, but I would love it anyway.
BTW, the hostas around it are Golden Fascination to the left, Artistocrat behind, and down in the very front right Blue Mouse Ears.
Linda P
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And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten.....
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Interesting choice, but I applaud it. If there had been one more June/Striptease/Fragrant Bouquet-based sport, I'd start to wonder.
I guess the voters wanted CHANGE!
'Praying Hands' is one of the selections for the upcoming Delaware Valley Hosta Society's sale. I didn't like any of the available marketers' pictures to use for our sale flyer, so I used a pic from my own garden. (sorry I'm at work so don't have access to the pic alone)
Tigger wrote:Interesting choice, but I applaud it. If there had been one more June/Striptease/Fragrant Bouquet-based sport, I'd start to wonder.
I guess the voters wanted CHANGE!
'Praying Hands' is one of the selections for the upcoming Delaware Valley Hosta Society's sale. I didn't like any of the available marketers' pictures to use for our sale flyer, so I used a pic from my own garden. (sorry I'm at work so don't have access to the pic alone)
For once I have a Hosta BEFORE it is HOTY. But mine was new last year. Doesn't look like the posted pictures yet. Thank you for posting mature pics as it gives me a really good idea of what to look for in mine.
Hi!'
My 2 cents: Glad to see it is not a patent choice. Praying Hands does deserve credibility for being durable. As previously said; plants unique like this accent qualities of others.
Wow, love the pictures of Praying Hands. The one Chris posted of LG's shows the nice upright form and Linda's shows placement with other hostas in the garden, two lovely photos.
I passed on Praying Hands awhile back because I didn't think I'd care for the appearance but I'm changing my mind now.
I'm really thinking Praying Hands got Hosta of the Year because it is so different. What with all the collecting it is getting harder and harder to find a truly unique hosta, at least this one is something off the beaten track.
I was like...... ......That's MY Praying Hands! Cool!!
I have to say I LOVE this hosta!! It is in the full sun bed and doesn't care!! Grows well, and never burns!! Looks great always! I am glad it made Hosta of the year 2011!!
Well, I guess it has one thing going for it. It makes any hosta growing next to it look really, really good. The curled up twisted leaves make it look like it is in agony. Granted, I have never seen one in person which can make a difference...maybe.
Diana wrote:Well, I guess it has one thing going for it. It makes any hosta growing next to it look really, really good. The curled up twisted leaves make it look like it is in agony. Granted, I have never seen one in person which can make a difference...maybe.
-Diana
I've never thought of it that way, but I think you uare onto something! It DOES make all the others look good!
Alexa
Spring - An experience in immortality.
- Henry D. Thoreau
First time I can say that for years.
They have either been look a like or way to new on the market for a HOTY.
One of the most special hostas indeed: Alexa, try to plant in in a slender pot, it is very elegant, but I dislike Guacamole, so
Best thing: Getting the eyes of everyone I still ( for so many years) hope to see it in yellow/ blue and then all the varigated ones... I'll bye them all
Against stupidity the gods themselves struggle in vain.
E-mail for pics hostapics@gmail.com
I'm not surprised - but one has to keep in mind the criteria for selection as Hosta of the Year.
For those not familiar with the process, the HOTY is selected by a group of hosta growers. It is no secret that this is about selling hostas, not really about selecting some kind of list of must-have hostas.
I didn't go look up the criteria, but is something like
1. Has to be a good hosta... have some interest and grow reasonably well across geographic areas
2. Has to be available in quantity
3. Has to be available for $15 or less.
It is really all about marketing and about spreading the hosta religion.
Praying Hands has a great name. I find it easy to sell... people put in in their gardens with Guardian Angel and Earth Angel, etc, etc, etc. It's uniqueness frequently gets the "Is that really a hosta!" response - and often results in a sale.
I'm not a praying man myself, but I happen to like it for its own qualities. It is very sun tolerant and its upright form allows me to plant a little closer under it with small hostas.
Last year I was able to sell it at my yard sale for $8.00 - had no problem getting people to try it.
I've seen quite a few nice specimens of Praying Hands on garden tours in the last few years. I like it because it's different. Mine has never done well though. I can't remember where I had it planted originally, but it has kept shrinking. It ended up in a pot 2 yrs ago. I think it was still around when everything in a pot went into one tiny section of unused garden last fall. I'd have to get out the maps I made to be sure. We'll see if it is still around in another month or so... It is one I'll most likely get again if it didn't make it. I believe it was Bob Solberg speaking somewhere last year [national convention?? ROHS fall meeting??] who said that it had nearly gotten enough votes to be HOTY for 2010. So I'm not surprised to see that it made it for 2011.
both people and hostas!
......That's MY Praying Hands! 
