My hostas and their journey. *thanks to Stratsmom!!

Discussion in 'Member's Gallery' started by Ronni, Apr 23, 2016.

  1. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    These hostas have had quite the journey!!

    When I moved into a house several years back, they were overridden with ivy which I patiently freed them from by ripping out the invasive ivy.

    Then the tree they were under (a bradford pear!) had to be removed becuase it was splitting. So I dug them up to protect them while that was underway, and rather than re-plant them because it was so close to the end of the season, you all recommended that I just overwinter them. Lay them out, pile some mulch on top of them, and let them be. I was very dubious, but I bowed to the wisdom of y'all, and did just that.

    Then my life went to hell and I had to move from that house and in with Paige. One of the last things I did was to go back and haul those hosts to my daughter's house, so I could transplant them here. They sure did look sick by the time I did that, but hey, y'all told me there were hardy and hard to kill, so again I bowed to the collective wisdom here, and bit the bullet.

    Last season they were so puny looking that I wasn't sure they were going to make it. Imagine my surprise when they started to emerge this year looking stronger and brighter and bigger than ever before in SPITE of their very difficult life!!!!

    They are amazing plants, and you all are amazing for holding my hand and giving me such excellent advice as I babied them through all these transitions. They are thanking me (and you, vicariously) by flourishing. Don't they look grand? :smt026

    [​IMG]
     
    Donna S, 2ofus, Philip Nulty and 7 others like this.
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  3. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

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    They do look mighty grand Ronni. They are sort of like a metaphor for your current life situation, very healthy growth :) Thanks for sharing.
     
    stratsmom likes this.
  4. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    WOW they look so lush Ronni. Plants never cease to amaze me.
     
  5. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Ronni I also love Hosta's. They and you have had quite the jorney. So glad you and they are gaining more strengh and grow stronger everyday. I have at least 8 different varieties. From small leaved ones, to large leaved ones as big as Elephants ears.
    Ronnie if you would like a piece of the large leaved one I have send me a pm message and I will dig it and send it off to you. Oh I forgot to say that it is a fragrant variety. Have a great day.
     
    Philip Nulty likes this.



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  6. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    Toots!!! You bet, thank you so much! I'll pm you my contact info :D
     
    Philip Nulty likes this.
  7. eclecticgarden

    eclecticgarden Seedling

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    They look great Ronni. I'm feeling the sudden urge to go out buy some now. I've been reading a lot about Hostas lately and this might just push me over the edge.
     
    Philip Nulty likes this.
  8. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

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    I am a HUGE Hosta fan, and this is one of the reasons why. They are very forgiving, and always bounce back beautifully. I just cant get enough of them!
     
    Philip Nulty and stratsmom like this.
  9. TheBip

    TheBip Young Pine

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    What a journey! I have 2 hostas right now, divided from 1 plant. It originally belonged to my grandmother, and when she died (16 years ago!), mom dug it up and transplanted it to our house. When I moved last year to Columbus, I brought it with me cause I couldnt leave behind my grandma's plant. Mom was quite pleased when I told her I'd taken it :)
     
  10. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    Oh man, I love hearing things like this!! Ancestral plants...THE BEST THING!!!!!

    My ex MIL had plants in her garden, things she'd had growing for 30 years or more, that were from HER mother! I was just in awe of that! I'm trying to start the same thing....I've given Paige plants from my garden which are flourishing now in hers. And she's teaching the kids to love and nurture and value plant life too, so hopefully more than just the plants will be propagated! ;)
     
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  11. Tooty2shoes

    Tooty2shoes Hardy Maple

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    Ah yes. I to love those ancestral plants. I have a piece of a Fern Leaf Peony that my Grandma had in her garden. It came from a plant that was at least 60 years old. What a special blessing we can pass along to our kids.
     
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  12. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    Folks, Tooty2Shoes was true to her word and sent me a hosta plant! Thank you so much Tooty!!!!

    I spent a good bit of time studying the sun pattern in Ed's yard, and finally decide that I'd really, really love a hosta garden! So I chose a spot where I can expand the garden and make it look really eye catching, against the rock foundation and white of the house.

    Here's the very beginning of that garden, thanks to Tooty's generosity!
    [​IMG]

    And a fuller view, so you can see how I'll be able to expand the garden, on either side of the "plant of honor!" :)
    [​IMG]

    I'm going to bring one of two or my original hostas over and plant it here, and then....I don't know. I was thinking I might see if any of my friends have any. It would be a lovely thing to sort of create a "friend garden" with the hostas, don't you think?

    Anyway, huge thanks once again to Tooty!!! I am so grateful for your generosity! :heart:
     
    Last edited: May 16, 2016
  13. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    Wow. OK, so I planted that hosta that Tooty2Shoes gave me on Sunday. I was back over at Ed's on Tuesday for dinner, and so of course I went to check on it. Imagine my surprise to see how much it had grown!!!!! I mean, we're talking barely 2 days!!!

    [​IMG]

    I did a quick side by side fx so you can see!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 12, 2016
  14. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    It looks as though you've found the perfect spot for it Ronni. Keep posting photographs of its progress as I do so love seeing updates.
     
    Philip Nulty likes this.
  15. Sjoerd

    Sjoerd Mighty Oak

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    You must be well chuffed.
    They are coming along really well. I am looking forward to seeing how the leaves will look.
     
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  16. Ronni

    Ronni Hardy Maple

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    OK so now it's been a week. A bunch of leaves have already unfurled! I am just SO tickled that it's doing so well!! :stew1:

    [​IMG]
     
    Philip Nulty and stratsmom like this.

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