mid-south hosta society · hello all! this is percival picklebottom with new news about our...

Mid-South Hosta Society

March 2012 Volume 15, No. 2

Hotline Hosta

Michael Shadrack, internationally known hosta expert and photographer, will speak at our March 15 meeting at the Memphis Botanic Garden. He is an informative and engaging speaker and sprinkles his presentations with bits of British humor. We are in for a real treat! Mike has been a member of The American Hosta Society since 1992 and is currently Vice-President of Awards and Honors. Also a 22-year year member of the British Hosta and Hemero-callis Society, he is their former chairman and current executive bulletin editor. There are more than 6,000 hosta images in Mike’s photographic library. Many of these photo-graphs are in The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas (which was named 2005 Reference Book of the Year by The British Garden Writers Guild) and Timber Press Pocket Guide to Hostas, both co-authored with Diana Grenfell. He and his wife, Kathy Guest Shadrack, co-authored The Book of Little Hostas: 200 Small, Very Small , and Mini Varieties which was published in 2010. Mike has been growing hostas since 1986 and has been trying to hybridize almost as long. He

was drawn to hostas through his other hobby, fish-keeping, when he saw the beauty of hostas reflected in a garden pond. He now has many more hostas than fish. He and Kathy maintain a large collection of modern cultivars and a garden devoted to small hostas at their home in Western New York. Visit smugcreekgardens.com to get a glimpse of their garden. As a qualified London Tourist Board Guide, Mike organ-izes tours of private gardens both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. He is now the “Hosta-expert-at-large” for Bowden Hostas in Devon, England, the UK's largest hosta supplier. Through their website (Bowdenhostas.com), Mike is available to answer your hosta questions. Mark your calendar for a great evening. Come early at 6:30 to welcome the Shadracks to Memphis. This meeting will also be a book-signing event for Mike and Kathy, who will have their Book of Little Hostas available for purchase. Judith Hammond

‘Hey, little darlings, it’s time to wake up’

By LARRY TUCKER

What prompts our hostas to wake up in the spring? Most fac-tors are obvious, but some may surprise you. Unlike many frigid regions in the North, the traditional Mid-South hosta parade starts in March. Sometimes these guys and gals poke their noses above ground in late February. In the wake of an unusually mild winter, some hostas have already broken dormancy. For the past two weeks, pips of the usual early-risers have been restless, peeking from undercover to see if they can safely jump out of bed. Jack Frost, you know, may be lurking around the corner. Remember several years ago when he nipped early growth? Most of my in-ground hostas are still snoozing, but recent wet and mild conditions are sure to change that. I expect to see them waving at me before I’m finished clearing those ubiquitous win-ter weeds. There’s not a whole lot I can do to hold back the hosta parade. Air and ground temperatures play big roles in rousing hostas from their slumber. Once the air warms to a sustained average of 50 degrees and the ground reaches 40, there’s no holding our hostas back. Some delay their arrival because of genealogy, but most join the parade within a couple weeks. Those playing the blues are generally near the back of the procession. Wind can also coax hostas out of dormancy. A nice warm breeze combined with a little rain can tease those with exposed rhizomatous tendrils and persuade them to hasten growth. While cold winter rains are normal in the Mid-South, they do keep the ground porous and ready for the spring warm-up and eruption of plant life – unlike northern states where ice and snow tend to keep everything in a deep freeze until the vernal equinox (about March 21, the calendar’s official first day of spring). There’s no question that a stretch of sunny days will warm the ground rapidly. Sunlight is essential to help hostas ring in spring. That’s one reason I park patio pots in my darkened garage over the win-ter. By putting these potted hostas in cold storage and depriving them of light, I guarantee that they’ll have a longer winter nap and a more energized spring. But I remain awake to their needs. I sprinkle these dormant darlings twice a month to simulate occasional outdoor showers. Another good reason for seclusion is to keep fine pottery from cracking during our typical freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw winters. Imagine my surprise last week when I ventured into the garage and found a hosta desperately stretching its wings. ‘Little Treasure’ was the beneficiary of light leaking through a crack in window shutters. While every other hosta slept, this one reached for the slightest sliver of sunlight. According to my records, it woke up three weeks early. This lance-leafed lovely and other treasures have since been moved back to the patio, While warmth, sunlight, precipitation and wind encourage emergence of hostas, more factors are involved – particularly parentage. Hostas native to Southern climates around the world can be ex-pected to show their colors early. That’s why many of our fragrant friends – descendants of the Chi-nese species plantaginea – lead the parade into March Madness. And that’s why my little ‘Dixie Chickadee’ is already strutting out front.

‘Little Treasure’ saw the light and

led the parade into spring.

A Note from the President My winter to-do list is done and my countdown to spring has begun. While trimming my roses last weekend, I was surprised to see my hostas are already stirring – along with a bunch of green, healthy weeds! That’s a good indication that spring is near. Although you have to wonder if another serious cold spell is lurking around the corner. March has been known to play tricks on us like that. Plant catalogs are arriving. My project list for the upcoming year is growing as is my plant wish list. I can’t wait until the Club Specials that I ordered arrive in April. I have scouted my garden and know just where to plant them. If you haven’t ordered yours yet, you still have time at the March meeting. As crazy as it sounds, I am getting excited about the prospect of spreading mulch soon. That’s a true gardener for you! I would encourage all of you to get more involved in the society. Don’t be bashful. Tell us what you do well. Tell us how much time you can commit. We will find a place for you to participate. The more helping hands the better. Being the host for the 2013 Dixie Regional Convention will require as many volunteers as we can get. Finally, if you have never heard Mike Shadrack speak, you are in for a real treat. You will definitely laugh while you learn about hostas. Do not miss the March meeting. Bring your friends. Happy Gardening! Linda

Linda’s Tips for March:

CLEAN UP: Clean any remaining leaves from your beds.

FERTILIZE: When the hostas’ tips start showing, add a well-balanced, slow-release fertilizer.

Spread it around the root zone, but outside of the crown. Cover with compost or manure. Do the

same for your potted hostas.

SLUGS: If you have trouble with slugs, now is the time to start baiting.

WATERING: This month is extremely important for watering your hostas. Keep them well hydrated.

SHARING: Now is a great time to think about dividing your hostas. It not only helps your hostas,

but divisions can make great gifts to friends.

Book Signing Event

The Book of Little Hostas: 200 Small, Very Small, and Mini Varieties by Kathy Guest Shadrack and Michael Shadrack will be for sale at the March meeting for $28 and the authors will be glad to sign it for you. To be sure you get a copy before they run out, let Judith Hammond know that you want one. Email her at [email protected]. To find out more about this wonderful book, visit the “Other Publications” page on the American Hosta Society website.

Members-Only Club Special Hosta Sale

Orders will be taken at the March meeting for our members-only special hosta sale. The

hostas will be ordered from Bob Solberg with Green Hill Farm. They are bare root divisions

that have been grown to quart or larger size. Bring your checkbook or cash, because you

will need to pay at the time you place your order. Your plants will be delivered to you at

the April meeting.

‘Appletini’ $14 ‘Bailey’s Cream’ $ 9 ‘Mouse Trap’ $13

‘Blue Tooth’ $16 ‘Smiley Face’ $18

‘Blueberry Waffles’ $18 ‘Spring Shower’ $10

‘Brutis’ $15 ‘Star Power’ $16

‘Candy Dish’ $13 ‘Sugar Plum’ $16

‘Lemon Ice’ $16 ‘Winter Snow’ $18

“Hostas, Friends & Music” American Hosta Society 2012 Convention

June 13-16, 2012 at the Nashville Airport Marriott

“Hostas, Friends and Music” will be a time for visiting with old friends, making new ones, experi-encing Nashville and seeing Middle Tennessee gardens. The Scientific programs will include:

• a panel on Hosta Tips to Grow By

• Don Dean sharing his hybridizing experience Where Did That Trait Come From

• George Schmid, the Key Note speaker, presenting his work on Hosta Species

• Mike Shadrack will address hostas in Europe with Eric Smith, Master Hybridizer

• Bob Solberg talking on The Future of Hostas

• Jerry Weeks with From Yon to Here, a discussion on how hostas made their way from Asia to the New World

• Warren Pollack leading a breakout session on recent hosta DNA work by Dr. Ben Zonnerveld, University of Leiden, The Netherlands

• Flo Chaffin of Specialty Ornamentals discussing Shady

Characters - Japanese maples, hydrangea & conifers.

There will also be two non-scientific sessions:

• The Rise of the Southern Biscuit and

• Adelicia Acklen, Mistress of Belmont (Plantation).

This is only a sampling of the events of the convention. Other events include a musical review on Wednesday evening, optional tours of Nashville gardens, the Parthenon, and three historic Civil War sites in Franklin, Tennessee. The hat contest is back on Saturday evening and currently there are more than 8oo leaves expected for the leaf contest. Check out the website www.hosta2012.com for the complete lineup of this wonderful convention. Don’t forget that the Mid-South Hosta Society will host the Hostatality Suite on Friday night. Y’all come!

by by by by Percival PicklebottomPercival PicklebottomPercival PicklebottomPercival Picklebottom Chapter EightChapter EightChapter EightChapter Eight Hello all! This is Percival Picklebottom with new news about our favorite slug, Sylvester. You see, Syl-vester the slug has had such a busy schedule lately. His near death experience last year has forced him to find a new home. He arrived at his new garden a few weeks ago and has not been sluggish about sur-veying his new surroundings. It is very different from his old garden, and it took so long to travel. How did Sylvester arrive in his new home? Well, after he packed his belongings last year and left the red-shoed gardener's yard, he found a new place to call home. He only traveled two yards down and was amazed to find another garden just brimming over with an abundance of hostas. (Of course, they were sleeping at the moment.) Yes, he had moved across the street to the Green garden. But, just as he set-tled into a nice little burrow, he was scooped up and placed into a flower pot. Well, that is all we have time for in this issue. I'll finish up the story of poor Sylvester's journey next time.

Made in the Shade

book selling briskly

In a report to the board Feb. 21, Larry Tucker said more than half of his new Made in the Shade books sold in the first month and gross receipts covered the cost of print-ing. Projected sales this spring, he said, will undoubtedly require a sec-ond printing. Made in the Shade: More Confessions is the second edition of Larry’s sold-out 2009 book. The new publica-tion includes everything in the first edition plus 24 more chapters, hosta tips, color covers and pictures. Revenue again is destined for the Memphis Botanic Garden’s Hosta Trail, an American Hosta Society National Display Garden. In the book’s introduction, longtime MSHS member David Sams commends Larry for all that he has done for hostas nationally and locally. “He donates all of his book profits and speaking fees to the endowment fund that supports the hosta garden.” Others can help support the Hosta Trail by purchas-ing Larry’s book at club activities this spring for $15 or by mail order for $18. It will also be available March 23-24 in the hosta society’s booth at the Master Gardeners’ Spring Fling at Agricenter International. Checks should be made payable to Mid-South Hosta Society (with the notation Made in the Shade). Mail orders should be sent to Larry Tucker, 2927 Geoffrey Drive, Southaven, MS 38672.

The Dabney NurseryThe Dabney NurseryThe Dabney NurseryThe Dabney Nursery Thousands of Hostas in StockThousands of Hostas in StockThousands of Hostas in StockThousands of Hostas in Stock 5576 Hacks Cross Road5576 Hacks Cross Road5576 Hacks Cross Road5576 Hacks Cross Road 755755755755----4050 7554050 7554050 7554050 755----4037403740374037 MonMonMonMon----Sat 8Sat 8Sat 8Sat 8----5 Sun 125 Sun 125 Sun 125 Sun 12----5555

Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s Party!” -Robin Willliams

President: Linda Pittman Phone: 901-230-0230

Email: [email protected]

VP Programs: Judith Hammond Phone: 901-276-2819


VP Members: Kristy Waldo & Berta Morgan Phones: (662) 342-5806 / (662) 393-5222


Director at Large: Cheryl Lockhart Phone: 662-393-6247


Secretary: Sheryl Casanova Phone: 901-517-5548


Treasurer: Ian Edward Phone: 901-754-7955


Ways & Means: Gloria Green Phone: 662-342-1518


Hosta Trail: Tommy & Glynda Whitlow Phone: 901-388-1218


Hospitality: Rosa Wooddy Phone: 901-873-1093


Historian: Larry Tucker Phone: 901-652-7747


Newsletter Editors: Bill & Janet Ferrell Phone: 901-753-6473


Webpage Editor: Debbie Robinson Phone: 901-272-9959


FaceBook Editor: Tina Wideman Email: [email protected]

MSHS 2012 Board Pick Up Your Osmocote at March Meeting

Those of you who placed orders for Osmocote should

plan to pick up and pay for your order at the March

15 meeting. If you are unable to attend, please make

arrangements with a friend to pick up your order.

Gloria Green can assist you with any questions. You

may call her at (662) 342-1518.

Are you a member yet?

See details and benefits at

Americanhostasociety.org


2011 Financial Report

The Society began 2011 with a cash balance of $4,880. Our income for last year was $20,837 and our ex-penses were $17,937, leaving us with a year-end bal-ance of $7,780. If you are interested in seeing the de-tailed report, it will be available at the March meeting.

Spring Fling The Mid-South Hosta Society will have a booth at this year’s MAMG

Spring Fling. We need your help to man the booth. There will be a sign-up sheet at the March meeting. If you can help for an hour or two, it will be appreciated. You can shop, attend the dif-ferent talks and help the society, as well. Spring Fling will be at the Red Barn at the Agricenter on Friday, March 23rd, 10AM to 6PM and Saturday, March 24th, 9AM to 5PM. E-mail Rosa Wooddy at rwooddy @ xipline.com if you can help but won’t be at the meeting to register on the sign-up sheet.

WELCOME - 24 New Members This MUST be a new record! We had 24 new members join at the February meeting. A BIG Hosta Welcome to each of you!

Faye de las Flores Denny Garner Isobel R Ritch Margie & Tommy Densford Janet Futrell Susan Edwards Jack & Deb Edwards Susan Quinn Sheila Gist Shelia & Jack Jayroe Gwen Tubb Katy Terrell Marylane Johnson Pamela Shelley Lynda Terry David Whitehead Carol Symeon Susan Porche Candice Vaneyck Glenda Mendina

Hosta Trail Workday is March 17

The workday will be devoted to cleanup (very little is needed) and preparation for growing our hostas. Volunteers are asked to bring their shovels and rakes and assemble before 9:00 a.m. in front of the Pudwell Horticultural Building. We will be transported to the trail where we will spread mulch and fertil-ize the hostas. Please come help and see our new rock mini bed and sign bed. Many thanks to the Memphis Botanic Gar-den and especially to Kyle McLane and Monico Oritz for their part in construction of these new beds.

Tommy & Glynda Whitlow, Hosta Trail Coordinators

Hospitality We have another great speaker for our March meeting, so I know you will be planning to attend. I hope that you’ll con-tinue to share your baking and/or shopping talents with our members. Come early, mingle, sample the goodies and maybe get some reci-pes. I’m looking forward to seeing you! Rosa Wooddy, Hospitality

We Want Your Clutter ! Spring is a great time for houseclean-ing. Nothing makes you feel quite so good when it's done: closets pared down to only the things you love, cupboards cleared of clut-ter. While you’re emptying those closets, remember that the Mid-South Hosta Society will be having a Garage Sale in April to raise funds for hosting the 2013 Dixie Regional. Your donated items can help make our sale a success. Co-ordinate drop-off/pick-up of your donations with Monti McCauley (767-8661) or Lisa Kennedy (761-5001).

P.O. Box 30902 Memphis, TN 38130

www.mshosta.com

2012 Mid-South Hosta Society Important Dates to Remember

Mar. 15 Mar. 17 Mar. 23-24 Apr. 19 May 12 June 13-16 Sept. 20 Oct. 18 Oct. 20

Society Meeting - 7PM at the Memphis Botanic Garden Speaker Mike Shadrack, Internationally known hosta expert & author Topic “Miniature Hostas” Hosta Trail Work Day - Memphis Botanic Garden Society Meeting - 7PM at the Memphis Botanic Garden MAMG Spring Fling, The Red Barn @ Agricenter, Int’l Society Meeting - 7PM at the Memphis Botanic Garden Speaker Rick Blake, MSHS founding officer Topic “Growing Hostas in the California Desert” Annual MSHS Hosta Sale and Garden Tour ...seeking a volunteer host American Hosta Society 2012 Convention at the Nashville Airport Marriott “Hostas, Friends and Music” Society Meeting - 7PM at the Memphis Botanic Garden Speaker Troy Marden, garden designer and TV host Topic “Mid-South Gardens” Society Meeting - 7PM at the Memphis Botanic Garden Speaker Bob Solberg, hosta breeder and garden designer Topic “Building a Shade Garden Around Hostas for Year-Round Interest” Hosta Trail Work Day - Memphis Botanic Garden

2012 CLUB SPECIALS

Mouse Trap

Appletini

Smiley Face

'Mouse Trap' (Shady Oaks Nursery) - ('Blue Mouse Ears' sport) - Mini, (6"

X14") Best growing of the white-centered sports of 'Blue Mouse Ears', 'Mouse

Trap' emerges with a pure white center with a few scattered green flecks.

Summer leaves may green up in extreme heat so there is never any melting

out! Lavender flowers on cute white scapes in June. The centerpiece of your

hosta "mouse" collection.

(M. Zilis, M. Vanous 2009) (Yellow sport of 'Blue Dim-

ples' X 'Shining Tot')

yellow color, the shine, good substance, and cute leaf shape to make

this fast growing hosta a star in the garden or in a container. It also

has nice lavender flowers in July.

(Solberg 2011) - (H. clausa normalis F2 seed-

has the cutest round leaves that are full of personality and a

unique rich yellow color. It has pink petioles and surprisingly

heavy substance. It makes a small tight mound perfect in a

pot or a special place in the garden. Red scapes and rich pur-

ple flowers with reddish tubes appear in July. Fertile both

ways and makes a great parent.

Mini/Small Size

Hostas

M

Medium Size Hostas

Candy Dish

Sugar Plum

Spring Shower

Lemon Ice

'Candy Dish' (Summers, Wrede 2003) -

('Urajiro Hachijo' seedling) - Medium, (12" X 24"

or larger) This may be as close to the perfect

hosta leaf as there is. Start with heavy sub-

stance and dark green color, then add a deeply

ruffled margin to a broad heart-shaped leaf with

purple petioles. Pretty lavender flowers top off

this dense, flat mound in August and September.

(Beilstein

2009) -

This hosta has clean pure

white margins and Irish

green centers in addition to

its not quite round, shiny

leaves. It looks a little

tropical. Nice lavender flow-

ers in mid-summer.

(Solberg

2011) - (H. clausa nor-malis F2 seedling X

- Medium,

beginning of the next

generation of red and yellow hostas. It is the

largest of this very ex-

cellent and varied group of seedlings and has

bright yellow leaves with bright red petioles

and scapes. It keeps its yellow color very well

and will be better in the shade garden as too

much light will bleach it

white. Nice purple flow-ers on red scapes in

July.

'Sugar Plum' (Solberg 2011) (Seedling X 'One Man's Treasure') This is the

one!!! The ultimate goal of breeding purple-petioled hostas is to produce an upright plant with rich regal

purple color that runs up into the veins at the base of the leaf. Add a bright white back to the leaf and

you have the perfection of the purple running all the way into the white. This is that dream plant. It has

purple scapes as well and blooms in late August and September. It is a prolific seed producer.

'Spring

Shower' (Solberg

2007) - (H. sieboldi-

ana X 'One Man's

Treasure' F2 seed-

ling) - Medium, (14"

X 30" or larger) A

welcoming sight in a

special place in the

garden, this light

blue "Longiana" has

classic heart-shaped

leaves with strong

venation and most

resembles a

"Tardiana". It has

light lavender flow-

ers in July. Try it

next to 'Camelot'.

Large/Huge Size Hostas

Blueberry Waffles

Brutus

Star Power

Blue Tooth

Winter Snow

'Blueberry Waffles' (Sandy Brown

2008) ('Spilt Milk' × 'Abiqua

This is the one you have all

been waiting for!!! Maybe it is the

huge almost perfectly round leaves,

or their deep blue color, the color of

blueberries, with all the perfect

puckering, or maybe just the im-

pressive mound of foliage that

makes it the perfect specimen, or

probably all three, but this is a spec-

tacular hosta that you can't get out

of your mind. It flowers with its H.

sieboldiana kin in June. It's destined

to be one of the hottest hostas of

the year.

'Star Power' (D. and M. Beil-

stein 2009) - ('Komodo

Dragon' X 'Super Bowl') - Me-

dium to large, (20" X 48")

Looking for an impressive up-

right yellow hosta with large

heart-shaped leaves that are

ruffled and somewhat puck-

ered? This one from great par-

entage has good color and a

sturdy stance that will brighten

up any shady corner. It has

lavender flowers in June and is

fertile.

(D. and M. Beilstein 2011)

power blue hosta that has long, narrow leaves

and it has 12 pairs of veins! It also has light lav-

ender Bird of Paradise-like flowers in August. It

makes a large symmetric mound.

(Winterberry

Farms and J. Anderson 2003)

treuse leaves that have exqui-

site wavy white margins that

are consistently evenly wide. It

has the typical tall scapes and

lavender flowers in July that

generally need early pruning.

More impressive than its par-

ent.

'Brutus' (D. Beilstein

2007) - ('Sea Drift' X H.

venusta) - Very Large, (36"

X 65") 'Brutus' is a huge-

leafed, dark green monster

that is a little unruly. At

maturity, every leaf has an

intricate pattern of ridges

and valleys that draw closer

inspection. It is topped by

pretty purple flowers in

early summer on tall

scapes. Makes an impres-

sive specimen if raised

above ground level.

'Brutus' is a beast!

Michael Shadrack to Speak at


“Miniature Hostas”

Thursday March 15, 2012

6:30 PM

Memphis Botanic Garden

Hosta Expert, Photographer, & Author

Open to the public. Members free, visitors $5.00

The Mid-South Hosta Society meets on the third Thursday Feb, Mar, Apr, Sept, & Oct.

Membership is $10.00.

Join the Hosta Society and order new and exciting hostas! Club Exclusive Sale, tonight only!

mid-south hosta society · hello all! this is percival picklebottom with new news about our...

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