Phil - how horrible for you! Here in CT I am seeing the beginnings of an excellent hosta year, which surprises me after last year's disappointing results, so I can imagine your chagrin.

We'd still love to see your trunk-hugging hostas and the ones that are now eyes as they mature, so don't completely give up on the photos.

And, hard as it may be for you, documenting the hail damage and how it effects the plants during the growing season may be a very instructive series of photos for all of us, not just the newbies.

Nature is too fickle! Let's us know who's boss just when we don't want to hear it!

Jakki

You have my deep sympathy. I had this experience twice in the last five years - once after I had my sale tables set up, so the potted ones also got turned into a salad bar. Most disturbing.

We tried all the different approaches - removed all the foliage from some, left others alone - our best results were from removing the totally destroyed leaves and leaving any parts that would still "feed" the plants, even half-leaves.

We did get new flushes of growth on many of the plants after the destruction. With your long season, you may see this happening.

In the meantime, this is a great year to focus on closeups - you can concentrate on single leaves and build up a nice file, working around the damage.

As I said in the original post,from a distance, they look normal,but some have torn margins,and those are quite evident. Right now,I'd settle for some sunshine,as it hasn't hardly stopped raining since the incident. So,I can't even look real closely at the plants,because every time I venture outdoors,it starts raining again. I'm sure a little sunshine would do wonders! Phil(sitting inside and watching the rain.)

Phil I'm so sorry to hear this. I love the joy and expectation we all feel when our hostas come up and leaf out.
Last year was a miserable gardening year for me, the damage was all slug made. We had hardly any sunny days, just constant rain. This year everything is looking incredibly beautiful so like you say there is always next year.
Hopefully your hostas will flush out with more leaves to cover the damaged ones.

So sorry for you and the hail damage. Your earlier pictures were lovely.

Connie

Thanks to all who responded. I just wanted to vent a little! Eilene,(I don't remember how to spell your name); last year was bad for slugs here too,but I went out daily and sprayed them with my ammonia solution. I don't use sluggo,because I think it attracts slugs to the plants. Some places in my garden have never had slugs. We had a lot of rain last year here also. I have a new plant( Rainforest Sunrise) that I am going to plant if it ever stops raining long enough. At least it will look good for awhile! Thanks for responding. Phil

Oh Phil, I am so sorry for the hail you had and the damage to your hosta. Maybe I should be grateful afterall that mine are just breaking ground.

So sorry for you, Phil. I had a "hail" of a year 2 years ago so I feel your pain.

Thank you for responding about my spring "dear" delima too.

My garden will not be in it's best the year either.

Take care,

Deb

Sorry Phil
I had a bad hosta year last year (deer ate everything to the ground, they started to come back and they ate everything a second time) so I completely understand how you feel. Take lots of "vista" and panoramic photos so the damage isn;t evident and enjoy your plants that way.

Hang in there!

Alexa

Thanks everyone! Alexa,it's amazing how good they look from a distance! I will take some pics,tomorrow. Today,it just wants to drive me out of the garden with rain,every time I go out there. Today is a washout,but I did have time to plant my new Rainforest Sunrise,a sport of Maui Buttercups. I won't even have to water it in,the ground is so wet! Thanks for caring,everyone! I really don't deserve it. Phil

We had some here in MD also. Our hostas probably aren't as far along as yours are, but enough that lots of the leaves are damaged. It's a helpless feeling standing at the window watching it coming down knowing our babies are out there defenseless.

I'm sure your pictures will still be great.

Oh, so very sorry, Phil. We feel your pain. Try not to get too depressed over this as it was totally out of your control. You have a collection of some really fabulous photos from years past to help soothe you.

I really like Idiothe's idea of focusing on closeups this year. Didn't the same thing happen to Ken a few years back?

-Babka

I sprayed daily too Phil, up before dawn every day but it was useless, the torrential rains kept washing it away. I didn't realize you had all that rain last year too. Glad to hear you got your Rainforest Sunrise planted, it's a pretty plant, hope better weather is ahead for you.
Eileen

Just want to add my condolences, Phil. I've been pouting for the last 2 weeks, as my new Hippodrome, just planted last summer, got chewed on when just 2" out of ground. After your report, I have to be grateful so far, that it's just Hippodrome. We hosta lovers spend all winter looking forward to their return each year, and it's hard when we have to go a whole season with hail damage, sunburn, etc...

I have a new Rainforest Sunrise, as well. SUCH CUTE LEAVES! Can't wait to see what it does in the garden.

I feel very bad for you Phil. I know how much you love your hostas and look forward all winter to seeing them emerge, and hoping each year that it will be the best year ever. Mother Nature is quite fickle and cruel. Whether it is hail or killing frosts, our poor babies are at her mercy (and she shows none).
Hoping at least some of your babies get a later flush of new leaves to help disguise the damage.

Thanks,everyone,and Mary4b,hang in there! Your Hippodrame,will return with more eyes. My Striptease,which was chewed to the ground by a vole,has come back up,and even put on 3 new eyes! Also a Little Sunspot,which I personally broke off an eye,has put on 2 new eyes to replace the one I broke off. I don't know if they will be as big as they were before,but as long as you have some roots and some crown left,the hosta should return. Phil

OK,by now you are getting tired of my whining. This will be my last report. The hostas are fine,and growing so fast that by this time next month,the new leaves will all but cover the damaged ones! I just hope there will be no more incidents the rest of the year. Happy hostaing! Phil