I keep looking at everyone else's list and my list gets longer. But I definetely want Paisley Print, I re-a-lly want that one. So I make a list of what I want and start cutting it down to what I can afford.

As long as the stems looked alive, I'm sure your deer nibbled plant will be fine. If it doesn't return, though, let me know!

I appreciate that, Josh, but I'm sure it will be ok! It was Dancing Queen, it looked great up until Bambi decided he liked it! Forgot to put a basket over that one. Spring will tell.

Mosswitch...
Where are you finding wire baskets?
I've got a Thumper problem here, but I'm not finding any cost-effective wire baskets.

Last year wasn't too bad and I didn't really lose any hostas to bunnies until late summer. But in years past, I've had to put chicken wire around my entire garden until mid June.

Melissa,

I also use wire baskets to protect small, new plants and to cover slug bait. Here is a photo of a basket covering slug bait:

I get the baskets from the dollar store, near Cub Foods on Cedar Ave.

Cowboy

Cowboy.... I went there this year and had no luck. I even called around. Wish I could get my hands on some! Will you message me if you find them around town?

I just use wire hanging baskets (that you line with spagnum) that I got at the garden center a while back. I got the idea from MoBot when I was there last spring, they did the same thing. Just turn them upside down over the plants, I did put a rock on top too. Of course you can form a dome shape out of chicken wire or concrete reinforcing wire that will do pretty much the same thing. That's what I may do this year when I run out of baskets. If they get a bit rusty, so much the better, they won't snow up as bad in the garden.

Sandy

I see Lakeside Paisley Print is everyones favorite :0
I also placed my first order with Garden Breeze Hostas and will get Lakeside Paisley Print, Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled, Miss Tokyo, Goodness Gracious, Neptune, and Rhino Hide - a Chrismas gift for myself :).
Happy Holidays to everyone!

Here is a link that might be useful: Garden Breeze Hostas

Don't those prices from Garden Breeze seem high to you?

I am not sure about the rest of the hostas, but the ones I have ordered are priced lower than the same plants at In The Country Garden and Gifts mentioned on here aswell. I did purchase from Garden Breeze Hostas through a hosta library auction this past summer, and was very pleased with the quality of the hostas I received. Hope to get the same quality with my current order.
Dani

I looked at the section for new introductions and yes, some prices are high, some are low and others are right in line with Naylor, Hallsons, In the Country, etc.

Also something to note is that the owners are saying that most are shipped with at least 2 eyes. That'd be worth paying a bit more for.

However, I don't think I'm familiar with Garden Breeze... I don't recall their name being mentioned here on the GW forums in the last 4 years I've been here.

There's a website you could find by googling "Garden Breeze Hostas Review". It'll be the first one to come up. It's a great place to look up mail order nurseries. This place has literally NO reviews. No positives, neutrals or negatives. Sounds like they're new and they have no track record to speak of, so you don't really know their practices with pest and disease control. Proceed with caution.

I just ordered Emerald Ruff Cut, Golden Meadows and Lederhosen from Hallson at reasonable prices. Usually they add a free one, and send most plants with 2 eyes. That's all I have unassigned space for.

In later spring I will probably add larger size hostas from Land of the Giants Hosta Farm.
Bernd

So far, Devil's Advocate, Moon Split, and Lakeside Paisley Print.

After seeing the pics of uk_hostaman's Risky Business, I went and ordered two of them. That's it so far! I'm running out of room on my small yard. (Hmmm, there's always pots lol...)

So I'm minding my own business, checking out the latest postings on the hosta forum, only to be enticed to check out the Hallson sale. Followed by a significant order, many of which were on the ever-evolving wish list, and others which I decided simply must find their way to my gardens while perusing the on-line catalog. Thus, my first official order of the CY2011 gardening season (even though it was placed on December 31) contains these beauties:

Autumn Frost
Brother Stefan
Cheatin Heart
Dancing Stars
Deja Blu
Extasy
Faithful Heart
Flemish Sky
Fried Bananas
Frosted Mouse Ears
Golden Meadows
Great Arrival
Katie Q
Lakeside Cha Cha
Lakeside Party Dress
Lullabye
Luna Moth
Mighty Mouse
One Man's Treasure
Radiant Star
Ripple Effect
Smooth Sailing
Sweet Innocence
Waving Wuffles

Ah, but that I could say "I'm done for the season" and even half-heartedly believe it. But there remain 63 hostas on the wish list, even after this order, and undoubtedly the number will grow. Unless I delete this website from my favorites and permanently block it from my computer! But what fun would that be????

--HJ

I have ordered, at this point, from Hallsons, In the Country and Jim's. I have a cart all ready to go for Naylor Creek.

My wish list IS getting shorter. I think that's due in large part to actually documenting it, with pics, in Excel. I'm editing and buying from it. So, I guess the good news is that I'm trying to stay to my list. I have only about 20 on my wish list and I know I could easily pick those up in the spring if I have the room. With what I've ordered and have in my cart and what I know a local grower has for me, I'm at about 40. And after that, I do not plan on buying anymore. I know I won't be as tempted by local sellers as I have been in the past since I've exhausted what they have.

And I'm actually kinda thinking my obsession is shifting from hostas to heucheras. I have a loaded cart from Casita Azul for another dozen or so heucheras (and relatives) but I hesitate to pull the trigger on those till I know if the new garden area I prepared for them is going to be as successful as the areas where they've been living until now. I just obsessed with the rainbow of leaf colors available in heuchera relatives!

I hope to do lots of planting in the spring (prior to my hosting a garden party in mid June) and spend the rest of the summer enjoying what I've done and maintaining. I'd also like to re-work my sun garden, since it's getting crowded and looking less than appealing (to my eye).

My heuchera wish list:

I am getting ready to submit my first orders of the year for 53 new additions. About a dozen of them are on my actual want list and the rest I just want.
1. Appletini
2. Autumn Frost
3. Azuretini
4. Backyard Monster
5. Brother Stefan
6. Celebrity
7. Cherry Tomato
8. Coal Miner
9. Continental Divide

10. Deja Blu
11. Devil's Advocate
12. Eclipse
13. Electrocution
14. El Nino
15. Fluted Fountain
16. Fruit Punch
17. Gila River
18. Gone with the Wind
19. June Fever
20. Lakeside Black Satin
21. Lakeside Paisley Print
22. Laura Lanier
23. Lemontini
24. Lewis and Clark
25. Limetini
26. Little Miss Sunshine
27. Little Stiffy
28. Luna Moth
29. Midnight at the Oasis
30. Mike Shadrack
31. Niagara Falls
32. Oshima Silk
33. Prince of Darkness
34. Remember Me
35. Rhino Hide
36. Saint Elmo's Fire
37. Saketini
38. Simply Sharon
39. Sleeping Beauty
40. Star Wars
41. Steffi
42. Stormy Seas
43. Surfer Girl
44. Sum of All
45. Thunder Boomer
46. Tobacco Road
47. Tonoko Tachi
48. Vim and Vigor
49. Waukon Water
50. Wave Runner
51. Winter Snow
52. Wonderland
53. Yankee Blue

Uh oh, you've got it BAD!!! (says pot to kettle)

No. I don't got it, that's why I have to get it. I added about 150 last year, 50 the year before that and I will probably get another 150 later this year in addition to what I listed. I added just one more onto that order last night.

No, you DO got it! You got the illness. It takes another hostaholic sometimes to tell you when you have it. And my friend, you have hostaholism.

I added about 150 last year too. This year, it'll be no more than 50.

I"do got it "too. My want list keeps growing including Hosta and Heuchera.I have a large shade garden, but I have to have help with it cause I am 84 and I have arthritis, but I am determined to have my Host garden. I also belong to Hallson's club and I sent a small order to Chris.

I work my hosta want list like this. I shop and get about a dozen or more that are on my want list and any additional hostas that catch my eye. Then I remove the ones from my want list that I did buy and add a few dozen more names to my list. This way I always have a nice full list of hostas to buy next time. I am forcing myself not to go too crazy buying hostas and am making myself get a few other things too like 75 lily bulbs in 16 varieties and a dozen new sedums. I have two more small full sun areas that I need to fill up so I can get rid of what is left of the grass.

What terrific systems, melissa and franknjim! I would feel SO much better if I actually had a system other than "like it, gotta buy it"! Feels scientific as opposed to merely obsessive (or greedy or crazy or mildly disturbed). And I am another who, if I don't got it, gotta get it. ;)

Cyn.... I find that by working a list, it helps me to not be too much of an impulse buyer. I might see pics of something I like, or observe it in a garden. If I put it on a list, I might be able to research it a bit to find out if it's difficult to grow or is an under performer.

This way, I'm not knowingly buying duds. I did buy a few impulse purchases last year, but for the most part, I knew what I was getting.

This is the best way that I've found, to maximize my hosta dollars for best plants for the money.

Heucheras... well, I'm a little more weak to their seduction.

Melissa, I`m finding myself in the same boat recently about Heucheras. Have you seen the new trailing or groundcover Heucherellas?
'Redstone Falls' and 'Yellowstone Falls'.
'Redstone Falls' just went to the top of my list.

Here is a link that might be useful: Heucherella 'Redstone Falls'

The problem I see with avoiding a variety that others say is a dud is that things grow differently depending on where you live, your soil, your placement and the level of care you give your hostas. A hosta that grows poorly for someone else could grow great for you and exceed what it has done for others. That can be a really nice surprise. I would however be more cautious with the varieties that are very expensive and wouldn't go hog wild.

I do take my want list when I go shopping and I try to stick to it but there is always going to be that one hosta or six that catches my eye and becomes an impulse buy. If you don't buy it you get home, look it up then wish you had bought it. Then you have to go back with your updated list to get those you didn't buy on impulse the first time and the entire viscious cycle starts over.

Nutmeg... yup. Saw 'em. Ordered 'em.
I've got about a dozen or so heuchera on order.

Only two so far for 2011 ordered. Two Risky Business hostas from Hosta's Direct (only place I could find them that's also a good place) after seeing uk_hostamans RB's. Gorgeous! Don't quite know where I'll put them yet, but I just HAD to have them! :)

lol - oh, Frank, don't listen to them. You are not a hostaholic
Your local pusher

Placed my 2011 on-line orders this week - 21 hosta total (4 vendors). About 2/3 were on my list and took a flier on a couple of others. Planning to purchase about 30-35 hosta this year - so pretty much done. Bought quite a few from local hosta gardeners last year - great value - hope that trend continues. Trying a new vendor for the first time - In The County Garden and Gifts(IA).

Hope to start some seeds later today. Starting to get the fever.....

Candy Dish
Captain's Adventure
Cathedral Window
Emerald Necklace
Fat Cat
Final Summation
Frosty Morn
Garden Treasure
Jewel of the Nile
Johnny Angel
Just June
Lakeside Paisley Print
Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled
Luna Moth
Nancy
Neptune
Purple Haze
Radiant Star
Rosedale Misty Pathways
Stand By Me
War Paint

Paul

I don't think you will be disappointed with In the Country. This is my 2nd year ordering from there.

Sent in my next orders!

Totally Twisted
Raspbery Sorbet
Flemish Gold
Childhood Fantasy
Astral Bliss
Raspberry Sundae
Neptune
Lakeside Dragonfly
Dragon Fire
Midnight at the Oasis
Witches Brew
Piedmont Gold
Tiny Tears
Clausa
Emerald Ruff Cut
Dragon's Eye

Plus a "Hearthrob" violet as a companion plant.

That brings to 25 my total ordered so far.

I only have one more hosta order to go, then a couple of orders for other planta and I'm done with orders for this year!

I still am going to order from Jim's Hostas:

Redneck Heaven
Bedspread
Little Black Scape
SnowFlakes
Tobacco Road

That's all, folks! Well, at least until the local nurseries open in the spring!

What an interesting thread!

Looking at everyone's list, here's a list of ones I agree, due to having them already, mostly (exceptions noted):

Brother Stefan - I'm voting this one as a future HOTY.

Katie Q - ours is planted right next to last years HOTY, and nobody even noticed the HOTY, they all oohd and aahd about KatieQ.

One Man's Treasure - cool plant, even cooler 'story' about how it came to be called that . . . ;-) And my wife 'caught' me when I labeled ours 'One Man's Pleasure' whoops!

Remember Me - about the best of the June progeny.

Rhino Hide - don't yet have, but itchin' . . .

Winter Snow - one of the best SnS children

Cathedral Windows - way better than it's parent.

Jewel of the Nile - stunning when true, but as a prior thread notes, it's 'a matter of time' till it reverts

Raspberry Sorbet - surprised to see this on folks lists, but glad because it's a beautiful bloomer!

hh

So far tracy's emerald cup, pamela lee, black beauty, spinach patch, gray cole, twisted sisters, purple haze, jaws, faithful heart, black hills, clear fork river valley, sum of all, smokey bear, shade master and still looking!

Wow, I don't feel like I have many hostas at all, some of you have oodles of Hostas. I believe I have around 50 and counting, but not all are planted in the ground. Hopefully get to that come Spring.

Diane

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Woodland Gardens

Diane... it starts with "50". Be careful around here. There are a lot of enablers here and we tend to egg you toward the next purchase. I started in 2007 with the few hostas the previous owners left for me.... Maybe a dozen or so.

Going into the 2011 season, I'm at about 400. This year, I'll add about 50.... most of which are already on order.

My 400 is nothing compared to some of the other members numbers... a few members getting into well over 1000 varieties.

I have placed my orders with 3 vendors:

Bridgewood Gardens:
Green With Envy
Lakeside Black Satin
Lunar Orbit
Valerie's Vanity
Touch of Class

Hallsons:
Deep Blue Sea
Katie Q
Kiwi Full Monty
Radiant Star
Rainbow's End
Sum It Up

Naylor:
Captain's Adventure
Gentle Giant
Irish Luck
Lakeside Lollipop
Luna Moth
Magic Fire
Scallion Pancakes
Lakeside Paisley Print

I have not ordered from Hallsons or Naylor before, but because they have such good reviews on this forum I decided to try them out. Am anxious to see the plants! I also see Casita Azul is offering a 15% discount off orders of $30.00 or more. Has anyone ordered from them before?

I ordered plants from Casita Azul last year, only one hosta and a variety of other things, but I was pleased with everything I got. I've ordered more hostas from them this year.

Oops! I forgot I also placed an order with Land of the Giants for Potomic Pride, Heart and Soul, and Wagon Wheels. First time ordering from them as well.

Every year I set myself a limit (which every year seems to increase). This year it was 15. Here they are:

Lakeside Paisley Print (which was not on my list until this post started!)
Golden Scuplture
Quilted Hearts
Fried Green Tomatoes
Neat and Tidy
Lakeside Black Satin
Warwick Comet
Cathedral Windows
Holly's Dazzler
Hoosier Dome
Northern Exposure
Dawn's Early Light
Mango Tango
Viking Ship
Cold Heart

I also bought some liners from hostaliners (Nifty Fifty, Faith, Vulcan, Rainforest Sunrise). I figure these do not count towards my 15 per year. I know that folks have cautioned against trying liners but I figured they were so inexpensive I would give it a try. It might be cool seeing little ones grow up.

Finally, I plan on visiting a hosta nursery in SC in April and will probably pick up a few there. So you can see how well my limit of 15 works!

coralb,

Sure hope your liner of H. 'Rainforest Sunshine' goes for you. Here's ours, also once a liner, after about 5-7 years (it's in the lower left corner):

Bump for Deanna

Added Love Spat - a streaked Love Pat.

Paul

I put in my first order this week. In the Country Gardens:
Adorable
Devil's Advocate (for my sister - a Blue Angle devotee)
Tickle Me Pink

I will buy more from Venero this spring and will probably pick some out at the regional in Madison.

Here goes:

In the Country Garden & Gifts:
Peppermint Ice
Glory Hallelujah
Lakeside Prophcy Fullfilled
Lots of Heuchera (and friends), plus a few other oddities

Naylor Creek:
Captain's Adventure
Copa Cabana
Foxfire Palm Sunday
Gentle Giant
Irish Luck
Lime Smoothie
LS Paisley Print
Magic Fire
Paradise Glory
Regal Supreme
Ripple Effect
Secret Ambition
War Paint

Hallsons:
Jaz
Radiant Star
Emerald Ruff Cut
Roy Klehm
Warwick Comet
Bix Blues
Katie Q
Rascal

Jim's:
Regalia
Grand Tiara
The Shining
Spinning Wheel
Christmas Candy
LS Dividing Line (OS)

Glenbrook:
LS Cindy Cee
Joshua's Banner
Emeraled Scepter
Gay Search
Heuchera Kassandra

I've limited myself to about 50 hostas this year. These that I've ordered, plus another 11 or so that I am getting from a local vendor, 2 from another local vendor, 1 from a third local vendor, that leaves me only 2 more I can add... unless spring planting shows me that I have room for more!

coralb....how can I find hostaliners?

Glosgarden, Try this site for liners:
http://www.hostaliners.com/catalog/
Hope this helps. It's a good way to get started with the newest varieties and watch them mature with your care. I've been using liners for over 10 years and never had any problems with them and you are pretty much guaranteed not to have any HVX virus or other disease.
John

Tacking on a few more that I am getting bareroot for just a little above cost this week at the nursery where I work:

Jurassic Park
Lakeside Cupcake
Moonstruck
Night Before Christmas (to replace one I got a few years ago that wasn't)
Popcorn
Robert Frost
Blue Hawaii
Fire and Ice (to replace one that hasn't done well)

I have given up counting the total.

Thanks for the info John, I ordered 5 liners this afternoon!
I have grown them before but did not know there was a place that would let you order just one of a variety....

Glos...
Hostas Direct has liners, but they call 'em "Starter TC's".
They pretty much take a thumb-size liner, stick it in a 1" cell and call it a "Starter TC"

Google for 'hosta liners', there was a Garden Web thread which gives more details :
Hosta Liners, Posted by slp0100 4 on Thu, Jan 28, 10.

I found them at the link below. They are already sold out of a lot of the ones I would have gotten. For the price I figure I would give them a try.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hosta Liners