Be sure to look at the "unimportant announcements". It dispels some of the myths about hostas, and is just plain fun to read! Yes, I remember too that prices on First Look are high, but that is where some of the finest new ones are first shown. A feast for your eyes.

-Babka

I knew about all the other "Myths and Mysteries" in the unimportant announcements area, but NOT that Spring Desiccation is actually edema. Now I will be watching my watering more carefully on the white edged ones. One wonders why Frances Williams would consistently have that problem when grown in so many different gardens with differing conditions.

-Babka

You and me both Babka. I do have 2 FW and in one location it is flawless. It has a chance for the leaves to dry in the a.m. before the sun hits, except the odd time we get a sun shower in the mid morning. That was a fun read, thanks!

im lazy today ... anyone care to link us ... ken

Here you go, First Look Auction

-Babka

thanks ....

in my MI .... it seems so tied to cold .... e.g. a warmish spring.. fast growth sodden soil ... then a frost or a freeze .... seems to tie in well ... goodly??? ... with the theory given.. and i am just adding one more variable .... whatever ... lol ...

ken

Very interesting section. Over many years my FW seems to exhibit less issues, but it has definitely grown much better in dappled shade. Perhaps less water falls on it from either rain on the sprinkler? But who knows what will happen this spring? The winter has been a series of drastic temperature changes, 35 yesterday, 50 today and 70 tomorrow. It has been very cold and then much warmer than usual. I'm sure that the shrubs that I planted last fall have struggled. They can take a few variations but it's been up and down since last November.

When I first commented on this, the "myths and Mysteries" were at 6 or 7. Now they are 11. I agree with #11. More sports are showing up with tc-ing- because of the number of plants being produced. The percentage of producing a sport probably hasn't changed. If I grow 100 plants and produce one sport. The TC lab produces 10,000 plants and produces 100 sports. Yes, we are seeing a LOT more sports. Yippee for us!

-Babka

Babka,

That makes a lot of sense--the more plants that they produce, the higher the incidence of sports.