I have very little shade left.... But, I know there are a few that I really would like: Antioch, Francee, Whirlwind (the one I got last spring didn't make it), Old Glory - I know these are old-timers and not glamorous, but still.... And I'm planning to get some venusta for an edging along a path. I goofed and ordered clausa for that location and afterwards realized that 7 of those could probably take over the entire bed in time, or that I would go crazy trying to control it and give it away... so thankfully my neighbor needed something to fill a good sized shady space, and I was able to adopt them out to her. I do love the look of clausa - especially when in bloom with the beautiful pink/violet closed flowers held straight up... but my shade is a scarce commodity, so I have to be "choicy." Maybe in a few years I'll have some more shade (grow trees, grow!) and I can get a few more from my wish list - Earth Angel, and some more blues.

Already drawing up lists of plants that "need" to be purchased! The recent website postings of their 2018 inventory are indeed gorgeous. So many plants, so little space!

Some of my orders from private dealers have been postponed to spring next year. So I can wait for some nice Valley's hostas and I also placed other spring orders with a few (for me) must haves like Maya Infatuation, Viking Ship, Angel Falls, Midnight Oil, Cold Heart, LS Prophecy Fulfilled, Hudson Bay and Tenryu.

But there are more on the wishlist :-) and my friend Renaat from Belgium will surely make some special proposal that I will not be able to resist...

Windymess, those old-timers sound good to me! They didn't get to be so famous for being bad do-ers :)

I have Francee but nothing else from your want list. She grows fast and looks good all year long - what more can you ask for?

Miles - have fun with your shopping. It's so much to pore over the catalogs and pick favorites. Do you have any in particular you're really anxious for?

Karin - you have great taste! I can't wait to see your gardens next year. :)

Windymess, good taste! I agree with Stephanie's comment! Antioch is an attractive hosta with its beautifully pointed leaves. It offers interest in that it changes colour (margins) and just gets more beautiful with age. Same goes for Francee - who doesn't stop to admire its "crisp" dark green with thin white edge? There is nothing out there like Whirlwind - it's substance, shape of leaf and colouration is amazing. Nothing disappointing about this trio in my opinion.

I had a rather lack-lustre kind of growing season this year with no new additions but no doubt will make up for it next year for sure! Thank goodness Karin was on a buying spree - I lived vicariously through her, lol.

My plans for the 2018 growing season are to acquire more hostas, of course ;-). No doubt The Alphabet will offer up some choice beauties.

Karin, You are lucky to have access to Valley's hostas, there are just a few available here. Lemon Squash was slow growing but it will take to acclimate itself to my garden. I just got Lakeside Prophecy Fulfilled and planted it 2 weeks ago--hope it does well. My Hudson Bay is a year old and is a bit slow compared to other plants that I bought at the same time. I really like Aquamarine that is a new one at "In the County Garden" website. Does anyone grow this one?

Yes, Jo, I've really been on a buying spree :-) no regrets so far, I hope they will all make the winter...spring 2018 will be very interesting for me...

I love my Valley's and Lemon Squash did well . I got it early in spring and it grew not better or worse than others.

Francee is one of my alltime favourites! I ordered some Oberland specials which are sports of Francee and can't wait to see them in spring.

I read that Naylor will have more of Dan Wols wonderful hostas in the next seasons. That might be an aequivalent for my Valley's.

I was so happy that I got his Skywriter here in Europe and hope for many more to cross the ocean soon :-)

Karin - I'm looking forward to seeing your Skywriter as it grows...

Sell half of them.....

Oh mikgag, you have some beautiful hostas... your Journey’s End and Sun Power inspired my purchase of both this past spring.., I remember that you are paring down due to a tricky back.....

if I lived closer, I’d want to come and take a few off your hands.

I have not bought any hosta in 3 years but I compensated this year... LOL

It seems I still like frilly edges, and corrugated, cupped wrinkled ones the most.

Got both of Dan's introductions ordered for next year as I think Dan's hosta has this something extra special.

Other than that I seems to gravitate to create a families... Summer Music and friends, Striptease and Friends, Blue Mouse and friends, Dancing Queen and friends, Golden Meadows and friends ... Also got a good start on Gold Coast project for my shady area as well as mini projects. Depending on how minies overwinter will expand next year.

I'm waiting to see how much more damage the hickory borers do and planting a dwarf chinkapin oak in a suddenly sunny corner of one hosta bed. I might have to move 5-6 more hostas to a shader spot and plant another tree or two. We lost eight hickories this year, but luckily only two that shaded beds. Two more in the biggest bed are infested and getting drenched with a systematic insecticide in spring.

No plans to buy anything but Skywriter, but am sure that will change when I visit the nurseries next year.

And I have to put edgers, stepping stones and mulch in the extension to the fenced bed. We had a big branch come down, and by the time we hacked out the honeysuckle so it could be sawed up and removed, there was a nice open area beside the main hosta garden. It's already got a fence, two gates, and most of last year's hostas, also a few from the suddenly sunny corner.

That's a lot of trees to lose in one year Madplanter! Sorry to hear about that.

Protect what I have from voles. And buy some more hostas. They both seem to be never ending-projects.

I have lots to do for next year but that's the way it goes every year :)

I would like to get a japanese maple for a container, work on the bed out front and make some raised beds for vegetables in the sunniest part of the yard.

I got plenty last year and am looking forward to seeing them grow - Color Festival, Gone with the Wind, Minnesota Wild, Montana Aureomarginata and Liberty are on my "can't wait til grown" list.

zkathy - I did this to deter voles last fall and, whether it worked or not I can't say for sure, but I know I did not have any vole damage... and I'm pretty sure I did have the year before. I'm planning to treat the yard again this year. You have to wait until the leaves have been raked up as much as possible, after a hard freeze/frost... and you have to spray the entire yard... https://www.nhhostas.com/voles-and-mice/

I got my castor oil at Walmart in the pharmacy section... cheap, and just the right amount.

Does anyone know where the "Holar" hostas are available, I just saw a bunch in the pictures and they have gorgeous "purple" petioles with red or purple streaking into the leaves. Does anyone own any of these?

Naylor Creek has a few of them....

Pieter

Windymess, I bought the castor oil last year then wimped out on using it. I was afraid of oiling my soil. Im glad to hear it worked for you.

Kathy- there was no noticeable residue on the soil, leftover leaves, etc. It’s a relatively small amount of castor oil, mixed with Dawn and water.... No downside at all. I’m definitely doing it again this year. I wish I had recorded the date I used it last year.... think it was just after Thanksgiving.