Cloudless Morn'

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A beautiful morning here on the mountain. The sky is clear and a breath of fresh air is enough to get you jump started for the day. I am heading to the garage in a minute for a new thermostat assembly for the Chevy truck and then off to work. Something like $325. Do not ask me how many times I have paid for this 2005 Silverado. Some people are paid too much for not doing a good job! I have real questions about the domestic auto industry.

Work on the new hosta/shade garden continues each night and it is really beginning to shape up. It looks good from our parking lot and from Route 2 but the down side is that you have to be willing to walk down a steep grade to get there. I have a plan for a system of native stone steps and accompanying side gardens but the economics of a second year nursery at a new location will dictate whether that happens this year or not.

I have always liked Yellow River, a large, vase shaped hosta. Some say it is too much of a monster but as with all hosta, it has a place and just deserves some consideration. I like any of the vase shaped hostas because they hold up and give a better view of the full leaf. This one has nice substance and looks good mixed with small conifers.

Red October was my first hosta with red petioles. I bought it years ago from a man in southern Vermont. The red stems are interesting and the gray-white underside of each leaf is also interesting but as a garden hosta, the leaf top becomes dull green early on in spring. To me it just fills a space and makes for conversation. I'm getting old enough that bending over to show folks the "red" is more trouble than it may be worth. Just the same, people like the name even though it blooms in September, not October when it gets droopy here from too many frosts.

Maple Leaf is nice because this is Vermont and the sugar maple is our state tree. The hosta has nice size and shape but on occasion there is a little leaf scorch which I haven't figured out. That may be just my garden or it may be a heritage thing, I don't know. Many plants sell not because of their beauty but because of their name and Maple Leaf does the trick for sales to the point that I don't think we have but one or two left for sale already. I keep it off the web site because it is not a fast grower and it's easier to just do local sales at the nursery.

Albo Picta is a hosta the fools neophytes. It is a beauty in spring and welcomes other hostas as it arrives early and has a nice display. What many do not know is that in short order now, certainly by the end of June here, it will be fading to solid green and the only color left will be surrounded by questions and "What happened's?" No hosta collector should forget it. It's old and it's good!

Jeff wrote a week back and asked what hostas I was planting in the new garden and I gave a brief list. So far I have added these: True Blue, Blue Angel, Spilt Milk, Diamond Tiara, Lucy Vitols, Midwest Magic, Little Miss Magic, Sea Gold, Fort Knox, Venetian Blue, Shade Fanfare, Queen of the Seas, Parky's Prize, Pilgrim, Invincible, Sparkling Burgundy, Ice Cream, Sultana, Geisha, Pacific Blue Edger, Jimmy Crack Corn, Royalty, Crepe Suzette, Big John, Ryan's Big One, Robert Frost, Bobbie Sue, Special Gift, American Sweetheart, Leather Sheen, Guacamole, Fried Green Tomatoes and a few more that don't register with an aging mind. If you get a chance to stop by, beware, as few have name markers yet but they are looking good. Here's a picture of a section I finished last night.

Must get going. Enjoy today! It's a beauty.

George Africa
The Vermont Gardener
http://thevermontgardenr.blogspot.com
Vermont Gardens
http://vermontgardens.blogspot.com
Vermont Flower Farm A nice place to visit!