Paula..thank you so much for the 2024 alphabet 🥰..Indianapolis winters last too long and the alphabet is a GREAT pick me up..😀

working with contractors stresses me out!..I hope your new windows turn out great..

I want to take another hosta count this summer..years ago I used a clipboard, made notes and took a thorough count..I had 504 hostas..I have more now..I'm guessing I might have about 40? more than when I took the count..so a total of 544..it sounds like a huge number but I have half an acre with practically no grass..I probably have room for a few hundred more!..I have 4 groups of alphabetized names in my phone that total 61..I have quite a few NOIDs..maybe one fourth? of my hostas came with the house..I don't really know what they are..I want to move some existing hostas before I buy new more special ones..wish me luck lol..

I'm interested to see the totals from all of you..not to compete with each other but to appreciate the phenomenal collections of the hosta growers here..💕

I'd love to hear from some that were here years ago..we miss you!..

my potted hostas are back in the garage..last night was cold..the 3rd June now has 3 very short purple nubs!..funny how it's behind the 2 others..Blue Ivory hasn't pipped 🙁..

not hosta related but I think this is cute..

I have over 80 of Lakesides alone. Last year I kept over 30 of my own streakers. This year am making attempt to label most so will report with more less close number.

This is what it looks today. But weather is moving towards stability. I ordered LS Love affair from Sebright and added couple to justify shipping for me including High Noon. I tend to pollinate with big yellows like Kruggerand, Midnight Sun, Harriet Ward etc and someone mentioned to me that most of them came out of High Noon. So I might as well to go to origins. I managed to snatch couple of hostas from Mason Hollow such as Montana Moonshine, Sir Prize and War Paint. It remains to be seen how bad year it will be as I worked late moving some hostas and we did have cold with no snow cover so I might have significant amount of losses TBD this spring.

As what am I to buy yet? I am going to WI bus tour with IL hostas society... Also to Nationals... Those places do tend to twist your arm a bit.

Paula, thanks for hosting the alphabet and all the good jokes. It kept our gardens front and center even during winter and made the gloomy months a little brighter.

Good luck with your windows! They’ll be done before you know it. When I had new windows installed, I found glass in some of my shrubs even though they were conscientious about cleaning up. So be watchful in the garden this season.

Ann, that’s a cute cake! People have such clever ideas.

I had no idea you have so many hostas! When any one of our spouses questions if we need any more, we can always say Ann has 544! I have to catch up. 😊

Pieter, good luck on your fundraiser. I’m sure people appreciate your hosta offerings.

Lindalana, I hope you won’t have any losses. Lakesides must love your conditions if you have 80 of them!

I wish I knew how many hostas I have. I’m still recovering from my terrible year. I’ve been adding more, but I have to limit any new ones to the areas that hold water the best. So I will reach a limit. I’ve got nine hostas coming thanks to the enabling of the alphabet.

sandyslopes..I had a funny looking Gold Standard..I posted a pic in the hosta forum..does anyone remember zkathy in NC?..she loved New Orleans..she offered me a test strip..my hosta had HVX..I wanted to check every hosta for HVX and thought why not count them?..I was surprised at the total..it's deceiving because they're not massed together..there's space between lots of beds..

Last count I had 150+ different vareties (is that a word?). I do have a lot of duplicates as I save lots of reversions , divisions and a few seedlings, also a few borders of the same.

Not sure what if any I will add this year but when I go to a nursery it's hard to come out empty handed. I know for sure I want to add a few more companion plants. I have yet to uncover my pots that are covered with chopped leaves, won't be long.

Paula - Thank you for hosting the ABC's again this year and great job with the jokes/comics.

old_dirt..you have a lot more varieties (I say it's a word) than I do..I have tons of duplicates..I have space and a hosta is better than a weed!..

Paula, thank you for hosting the Hosta ABC again. The friendship and wonderful pictures help me get through the winter blues to think of wonderful spring times again.

As far as numbers, I have about 240 named varieties, about 340 plants and 15 ordered. I am amazed at how fast collections can grow. Every winter I see more beautiful hostas and of course I order a few. I try not to buy any more during the year but a couple alway sneak in the shopping cart. The problem with having a large yard is there is always room for more but having the time and energy to maintain it is always the problem.

I am late but I hope the windows/doors are almost done. I could certainly change out some windows.

Paula I don't even want to think about what winter would be like without the Alphabet. The comradery and jokes make a huge difference. Thank you!!!

I have 177 in the ground and many holding in pots so maybe around 250. I had no business ordering 4 more when I am wondering where to plant the ones I already have. I think though that describes many of us here.

Paula. I look forward to the alphabet and the jokes every year and LOVE seeing everyone’s hostas and gardens every year. It helps fill my days as some others have mentioned. I appreciate all the work you put into it.

I have know idea what my final count would be. 150-200, if I don’t lose any. 🤞🏽I have only ordered 3 small hostas: Emerald Tiara to replace the one I had to dig out, LS Lollipop and LS Neat Petite. I have no other plans to order anymore…..HAHAHA, famous last words!

debra

Peren, I have no business ordering more too. I am not having consistent luck overwintering in pots. And I do have space but as Beth saying having time and energy to maintain them is a problem.

At same time when I think how far hybridizing of hostas went for last 30 years and how many new outstanding varieties being produced ...

I'd say all of us are doing our part to enhance the earth with lush hostas 🥰..

Diamond Lake this morning..

Such a great thread idea. I have no idea how many plants, as I used to divide almost every spring, in an effort to cover ground. At one point I had well over 100 named varieties, but I know I lost lots when I couldn’t maintain all I had created. EAB took out so many trees, and then with all the sun, the field grasses were rampant. Slowly trying to get things under control, and moving things into the shade that was left. I should not have ordered any, but somehow couldn’t say no to some new-to-me varieties.

Diamond Lake March 21, 2025..

Here’s what I am seeing:

Will have to go to forum to post pictures…

Crocus

Autumn Joy Sedum

Karl Forester Grass, Bert cut this back about 2 weeks ago on a warm day.

debra

Spending some time outside today as the ground is just right for weeding out those darn grasses and things. Here’s what I’m up against:

I will put these clumps in my garden cart and fill with water to try to tease out the hostas. Tedious, dirty work. But I’m determined to make at least some headway this year!

Oh, and spring is emerging!

Spring inspired me to hosta-shop. New arrivals today are: Jessica Alba, Valley’s Lemon Squash (second), Inniswood (replacement), Sugar Cookie (replacement), Hovercraft (replacement), and Parisian Silk (replacement).

I am sorry about rhe lack of photos this year. Houzz wants access to all of my photos,. I am wary of allowing that.

utog..I'd love to have a Valley's Lemon Squash!..

Houzz asked me recently for access to all of my photos..I agreed without really thinking about it..

I wonder if I could change my access??..

I allowed limited access.
Valley’s Lemon Squash, a trio of Blue Tooth, Scheherazade, and Miss American. My mother-in-law’s Raspberry Sundae next to azalea in bloom. Abs my Jade Cascade with araliabSun King.

And, not abs. Autocorrect plagues me.

Out of practice. Sorry, folks. The blue to the right of Bue Tooth is Ice Prancer, not Scheherazade.

Scheherazade, actually. Photo 11 days ago at my mother-in-law’s place.

utog..looking good!!..I have a mix of not up, just beginning, and further along and kind of damaged..

Pineapple Upside Down Cake looks beat up..

Ann, my pineapple punch was not looking good last summer.

So I potted it over the winter and it has done well.
debra

debra..all of your potted hostas look great!..

In the Willamette Valley, I have two advantages: I don’t need to pot my guys up for the winter and we live just over an hour from Sebright Gardens. We drove up and spent a few hours wandering around their fantastic display garden, then headed for what I call the ”Tunnnel o’Hostas” - a large fabric covered structure about 100 meters long. We came away with;

X-Rated

Wheee!

Celebration

Hands Up

Tom Schmid

Green with Envy

Twist of Lime

Sea Beacon

Glamour

and a bunch of other fuchsia, ferns and stuff. Two Epidimiums. About 25 plants in all. Waay more than I’d planned to buy, but I always go a little insane up there. That many plants meant that I spent most of the afternoon pulling grass and clover to enlarge the bed on the north side of the house by about 30 square feet. Today, I hope to get everybody planted, plus there are a few smaller plants that I need to move to the new front of the bed, or somewhere.

I used to never move plants - I was always afraid I’d kll them. Now I dig and move with abandon. I’ve become quite fearless in the interim between my last garden (in San Francisco) and this one. What a difference 30 years between gardens has made in my approach. To be fair, I have quite a bit more cash now than I did then, and nearly unlimited time, so killing a plant, even an expensive one, while a bummer, isn’t a disaster.

I am waiting on my order from Kirk!!! Love Sebright hostas. I live couple of hrs driving distance from several wonderful nurseries, among them Fox hosta farm, Uniquely hostas, Hugo hostas and LOTG. Am going to LOTG on first opening day. Hoping to get to the Fox farm next week.