Now it's important that I , up front, claim that I am not speaking of all Hostas in all applications. Just like, 99% of them.
In a ring around a tree, along the side of the house and stuck randomly,hopelessly in any shady spot, we know the Hosta can-do. Low maintenance, inexpensive and un-fussy... why not? We inherit crappy undulatas from our neighbors... we enjoy dividing them when the weather is conducive to puttering outdoors.
Hostas are like elastic waistband pants, they are both for when you've given up and you don't even want to look for other options.
It seems that each initial consultation I go to, each customer groans about how they want color, color, color and yet I shouldn't dare rip out their darling lancifolias. The flowers are LAME (except in a case in which the flowers are extremely fragrant, like in 'guacamole', a Hosta I don't totally hate, mainly because of the name) and aren't they more trouble that they are worth? Deadheading Hostas really sucks.
People don't often "get" foliage. Shiiiiiiit, they don't often "get" shade gardening past 3 flats of impatiens. The shade garden offers many options in texture- I find shade gardens very restful. I can almost always find someplace to rest my eyes.
All this being said, a well-done patch of the giant, seer-suckered leaves of 'blue angel' next to a fresh batch white Astilbe, a few Giant Goatsbeard and some floppy blue Hydrangea- with a dash of Ligularia 'Britt-Marie Crawford' for contrast? and SHUT UP! Where did my socks go? I think they were physically knocked off my body!
Or a wad of 'sum and substance' with Hakone grass, some feisty dark Heuchera, like 'obsidian' and some red Lobelia used as a stir stick. HOT-cha!
But that's not how they are used, right?
Maybe what I'm trying to say is not that I hate Hostas... but LIBERATE THE HOSTAS!
I dare you to ring that tree with a mix of Ladies Mantle and Rodgersia.
I double dog dare you to outline your house with a mix of Actea 'black negligee' and Chelone 'hotlips'- now there's a sexy combination...
Can we let Hostas be interesting again? (Like they ever were...)
Saturday, August 30, 2008
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5 comments:
I just stumbled on your blog through a series of links...this Hosta post made me laugh out loud!!! I'm a landscape designer in the western suburbs of Chicago. Actually, I am still laughing a little just thinking about the ring o' hostas...
I love Hostas and use them a ton - but with creative thought of course.
Thanks for making me laugh...I should be out gardening or pulling thistles...or working...but I'm not...I'm surfing the internet on probably one of the last great, beautiful weather days of the year...good times.
Thanks again!
Meagan
Thanks Meagan!
I'm originally from the Western suburbs. "The home of the ring 'o hostas".
this entry makes me super happy! I have a new bed in process at the north-facing back of the house. The plan was getting very cliche on paper. I am inspired to mix it up!!
Perhaps next you could blog about driveways in the south lined with liriope... bless their hearts.
"The elastic pants of the plant world" Classic!!!!
Now I will laugh every time I see one of these uninspired hosta plantings.
Thanks for the great combination ideas. My new favourite hosta now is June - stunning colour striations, and that all important limey green aspect.
Now, what best to go with...
This is a great post, Amanda, but dang... I know I'm over 50 and all, but I love my hostas! I've got them scattered over the gardens and even *gasp* in a ring around a 200-year-old oak tree. Well, I did plant those about 15 years ago, when I wasn't a real gardener.
How can you not love those mini hostas, though? They're so cuuuuuuute!
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