Of course, finding a place for it is no easy task, but I accomplished the near-impossible. Right.
So, on Wednesday when I went to buy some MoleMax granules (yup, saw voles running in the flower beds), I decided to look at some plants. Well, I had time on my hands and I was already there for goodness sake.
I saw a Hosta 'Marilyn Monroe'. A mature plant, not a young one. It was $80. But, it was on sale for 30% off and as a garden club member I could save another 10%, so figure $50 plus tax. But still... I passed it up.
And then yesterday I went back to by some weed spray for those errant weeds that pop up from Mr. 'If it's growing I leave it there's yard. Actually I now have neighbors on both sides who do nothing about their weeds, so I use a lot of weed killer in my lawn, what little I have of it.
Somebody had purchased some of the hostas, but Marilyn was still calling my name. So I threw her in the cart along with two astilbe to plant where I ripped out cotoneaster yesterday. Hello, gorgeous!
While standing in line to pay, I began talking to a woman who was admiring my hosta while I was admiring her choice of Hosta 'Wheee'. She sadly told me that when she sold her home the new owners ripped out all of her landscaping that had been done by this garden center. I told her I had a neighbor who ripped out the flower beds when she bought the house and threw everything on the curb for the trash. I was mortified. (which is why I asked someone whose house was on the market a few years ago if I could take some of their bleeding heart plant)
I told her that if I sell I am either taking my special plants with me or having a plant sale prior to listing the house. Sadly, I see many new homeowners rip out everything or else let it just wither away and die. Isn't this why they have apartments and condos? For the folks who don't want to take care of a large suburban lot? One of my gardening neighbors explained to me that some of these folks believe what they are doing is 'natural' or 'organic' gardening. To me it is just a mess. Like abandoned homes in the city.
So, I am taking these beauties with me. Better than seeing them in the trash heap.
Sorry Denise, I don't know what you see in Hostas. When we left NC to come back to Canada. We invited friends to help themselves - they wanted some of our daffodils in particular, they were particularly nice ones. I would think the person who moved in to our place didn't do too much with the plants from the sound of her. She gave the neighbourhood a lot of trouble with pit bulls running around loose.
ReplyDeleteWell, I love hostas. Can't explain it. Low maintenance? Tolerate shade? Hostas, daylilies and astilbe make up a large part of my flowers. The daffs are gone after a few weeks and something needs to be growing all summer.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had any luck with Hostas, either. Mine all got eaten by bugs.
DeleteSlugs. That is what eats hostas. You can use slug bait or put used coffee grounds down around the plants. Surprisingly, with all the rain we have had i have not seen many of them. Maybe they drowned. Which is another way to get rid of them. Put beer in a shallow bowl and they will crawl in and drown in the beer. Or get drunk. I can't remember which.
DeleteUgh, that makes sense. I have so many problems with slugs! They've eaten my strawberries and peppers before too.
DeleteI would've loved to go to that garden sale! I moved into a house a few months ago and I have been having fun gardening. Those hostas look neat. I'll have to get some! :)
ReplyDeleteWith over 7,000 named varieties you are sure to find one you like.
DeleteLove your plants! That is such a waste! I can't understand why people throw away perfectly good things instead of selling them or giving them to someone who would love them. Doesn't matter if it is a sofa, a dress, old lawnmower or plants.
ReplyDeletehttp://pl78064.blogspot.com/2015/06/just-us-girls.html
Some folks just don't want to be bothered. I've cut down several trees this year and put the wood at the street. It was taken in a few days by folks for their fire pits. Same with an old patio set. Just have to put stuff out before the trash guy comes and someone will find a use for it, even though scavenging is supposed to be illegal. Reusable stuff gets dropped at the Salvation Army store.
DeleteWow, that's so sad. That's something that really scares me, actually. I have a forest of dill I've grown for the swallowtails, who come back every year to have their caterpillars in it. Same with the milkweed and monarchs. I'm terrified that when I sell my house, it'll be bought by someone who won't keep this tradition going. I'm crossing my fingers for a tree hugger.
ReplyDeleteI have no luck with dill. Must be something in my soil. I have thought about planting milkweed next year back by the utility boxes. I have the same nightmare about selling my house based on what I've seen and some of my friend's experiences.
DeleteThe trick with dill is to have really crappy soil. :) It didn't do that well in my garden, but some of the seeds got mixed in with my gravel path, and that's where it has really taken off. Fling the seeds among some rocks, and it'll go crazy.
DeleteGee, maybe it was just too wet in my beds. Unfortunately, not much dry rocky area around here. Maybe I should try it in a pot. My parsley is loving being in the pot and not in the ground, but maybe that is because the rabbits can't reach it. They have eaten all the pansies again.
DeleteYou remind me of me when I go to a stamp store except your weakness are plants:) I think that is great because you are helping nature. What I don't get is why people buy a home and then destroy the outside garden. It's like they resent the former owner's "stamp" on things so they get rid of it but have no clue what they will do afterwards. To do this and then let things just grow is just another form of laziness.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!
DeleteWhat fantastic names these hostas have and they look fabtastic. I wouldn't have resisted either.
ReplyDeleteWith over 7,000 named plants you have to get creative!
DeleteI love the names of these glorious gals. And I adore hostas. They've always been so sturdy and so dependable for me. Me, with a slightly khaki colored thumb.
ReplyDeleteI actually have one - which was a gift from a neighbor who didn't know its name - but it spans over the space of about three feet. It's a monster with the fattest, broadest, deep green leaves I've come to see. I adore it.
And now I'm hankering for a pineapple upside down hosta.
Lovely post, Denise!
I would love to know the names of all of mine, but alas, no luck. Divisions of plants may have morphed into something else if it was a 'sport'. But I love every one and cannot even throw out old faithful types like lancifolia which is nothing special.
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