Those are plains states. That's where the buffalo roamed.

I would guess that hosta would be more popular in the great lake states where rain is more reliable. It's just a guess, though.

bk

Colorado resident here. Hostas do grow here. Conditions are more challenging for us than in the Midwest or East. The sun is brutal. It's dry. It's cold or hot. It's windy. We get hail and lots of it. The soil is alkaline clay. Virtually no plant is "invasive" here. But if you are a gardener, you don't give up easily. And those of us who love hostas just try harder. But you are right, they are not as popular in this area. I've never heard of a hosta club/group here. I am constantly trying to spread the word.

I've heard of some serious hostas in Nebraska though. They even have a hosta society there.

Ha, I wonder if I can find search by state on hosta posts?

we are lucky to have kids living in all directions ... traveling to MI WI MN was pretty what I am used to landscape wise. Same goes for PA NH MA and Maine. Even Canadian border with US was not much different.

Growing up in climate pretty similar to Chicago I have never had need to change my gardening wisdoms to something completely different.

I was feeling very unsettled by those plains and quickly come to realize it connects to lack of trees in landscape.

How many people do change their gardening habits significantly? I mean it is one thing to move from zone 4 to 5 in Midwest and another one just move to Florida from Chicago... never mind dry plains with buffalo roaming...

"Indiana winters are dreadful"

You're in Z6! Just saw the forecast predicting significant accumulating snow to the north of me next week in Z4. Glad I'm not there! I don't mind snow, don't mind cold, don't even mind shoveling snow. What is dreadful is the dirty piles of snow hanging around for 2-3 months. You get a whole lot less of that than I do. Walking through the woods after the leaves have fallen (no sweat, no bugs) is a real joy (but not trudging through the snow).

you're right it's not as cold and snowy here as it is for some others on the hosta forum..but I still DON'T like winters in Indiana..I remember the year my neighbor bought a snowblower we didn't have enough snow to use it..but you can't count on it..I agree that fall is wonderful..

I happen to love winters, my most displeasing weather problem is wind. Makes me unsettled and very uncomfortable.

Did find Nebraska hosta society. Lovely pics! I never seems travel when gardens are accessible though.