Neighbor has Hosta Epiphany

8 years ago

I was walking around the front yard at twilight. A neighbor I didn’t know stopped by, walking his little dog (I have seen him before, but didn’t know his name). He said, “Are you the master gardener?” A little embarrassed, I said “Yes, I guess so.” (It’s MY garden, so I am its MASTER, right?!).

He said, “I don’t like hostas. I always said I don’t like them. They are boring, and they all look alike. But YOURS – yours are like no hostas I’ve ever seen before. I walk by here almost every day. Yours taught me there is more to hostas than I knew! Yours are DIFFERENT! I told my wife, we need to get us some hostas. She said, “Honey, I don’t like hostas. They’re boring.” I told her, “You walk down there, to THAT HOUSE! And you’ll see they don’t have to be boring!”

Then he said that some weekend when she is around, he wants me to give them a tour. Then he asked me why his hydrangeas don’t bloom, and we discussed some options.

Then his little dog walked over and peed on the hostas. Twice. I guess we know that not everyone has been enlightened yet.

Featured Answer

teuth

8 years ago

I thought you meant your neighbour has http://www.hostalibrary.org/e/epiphany.html

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Comments (12)

windymess z6a KC, Ks
8 years ago
Hahahahaha. That’s awesome.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked windymess z6a KC, Ks
pandora
8 years ago
Great story, made me laugh! Thanks. Tell him he can start by buying just a few and stop anytime he wants.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked pandora
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lindalana 5b Chicago
8 years ago
Lol , water that pee down and you got free fert out of it.
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked lindalana 5b Chicago
djacob68z5sewi
8 years ago
Haha! I love it!! Why do people always think they all look the same? I think when I was a kid (over 50 years ago) there weren't many varieties around. The only hosta I knew before I began creating my shade yards, was rectifolia. It was everywhere. Maybe that's why I don't get thrilled about it today. But it is a prolific bloomer!!
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked djacob68z5sewi
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I am in a neighborhood where most people don't garden. I have to walk blocks before I see another garden (at least in front. But if the front yards are any indication, there is nothing in the back either. ). Here they plunk a couple of yews in front of the house, a small number of those plant a row of white-edges hostas in front, and call it done. God only knows what these people do with their time!
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
8 years ago
undulata was everywhere??????
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
8 years ago
You've created a convert! By next year, he will be on this forum talking about how he ordered "only a few" from an online source and present us with a list of 30. hahaha.

But seriously, good for you. Hostas for all my friends!
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago) thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
linnea56 (zone 5b Chicago)
Original Author
8 years ago
Ken, only a small number of neighbors even plant undulata! A subset of those who have yews. Though I'll admit that one neighbor has Patriot / Minuteman. That's an advance.

Teuth, if I knew this neighbor better, I'd buy him Epiphany! I always thought that was a great name. If I'd know what was going to happen to me 12 or so years ago, I'd have bought it myself.
gardencool
8 years ago
" The only hosta I knew...was rectifolia. "

Well,,,, I did google rectofolia. I got nothing! I give up, what is it?
ademink
8 years ago
Species! :)

http://www.hostalibrary.org/species/pdf/rectifoliapart2.pdf
gardencool
8 years ago
Not often ya can stump google.

rectifolia

Tillandsia native to Costa Rica. It results from a cross between Tillandsia ionantha and Tillandsia schiedeana. It has been described as a genuine species, as the population became very big in habitat. This vigorous plant produces slender, soft, pale green to yellow leaves, with a silvery base. The tubular, 3-cm long flowers are cream to violet from the bottom to the top.