Siebold Elegans Hostas

 

This is a beautiful grouping of Siebold Elegans Hosta that I spotted today at Furman University. It was the best day ever for photography, 70 degrees, light breeze and sunshine.

My daughter Lauren is getting married in June and today was her day for wedding dress pictures. She is so beautiful in her dress! Our first stop was Furman University, pictures among the huge 100 year old growth oak trees, then in front of the fountains, then the Rose garden!  When the photographer was done, he had taken over 1200 photos, I took over 150.

These hosta were growing under the huge old growth oak trees, aren’t they beautiful!!!

 

 

 

Slow Moving! Really Slow!

July 12, 2014

Can you see him? He is hiding in the pine mulch!

There he is, moving kinda slow!

I watched this snail for about 15 minutes and during that time he only moved 2 inches. This time of year it’s easy to find the snails and slugs, they are attracted to the plant areas I am watering. Last night I found and killed 21 slugs in my garden.

As I sat there watching him, I couldn’t decide what to do with him. He was in my rose garden, so I knew he would not bother my roses but he could snail his way into the hosta garden. I ended up moving him into the woods. Maybe he will find another place to eat and I hope he didn’t leave behind any hiding babies or cousins! 🙂

“The only man who never makes mistakes is the man who never does anything.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

 

 

Hosta

 

Hosta Sieboldiana Elegans

I wanted to share with you a few more of my hostas, I hope you enjoy the pictures and the variety!

Above picture; H. Sieboldiana Elegans is a large blue leaf hosta that makes a beautiful plant. As you can see this is a huge hosta with huge leaves. Sieboldiana Elagans flowers are mostly white with a lavender tinge and will attract hummingbirds!

I took this picture to show you the many different hosta variations, colors and leaf structure. There are mini, small, medium, large, huge and extra huge hostas in all color variations from yellow, green to blue along with variegated yellow, white, etc. To learn more about hostas visit the Hosta Library and the American Hosta Society.

Hosta Galaxy and Hosta Regal Rumor

The large streaked leaf hosta in the center of this picture is H. Galaxy. I used H. Galaxy a lot in my hybridizing as it nearly always gave me streak seedling which is needed is secondary crosses. Galaxy is hard to find and if you find someone that is willing to sell you a plant it will be very expensive.

The streaked hosta in the back is H. Regal Rumor. H. Regal Rumor is one of my registered hostas from my hybridizing. It has huge beautiful purple tinged flowers and is very fertile and sets seed very easily. There are many hostas that are not fertile and will not set seed. So if you are interested in hybridizing you need to be sure to purchase fertile plants that will set seed.

Hosta Blue Umbrellas

H. Blue Umbrellas is an upright growing hosta and has long petiole and huge leaves when mature.

The Hosta in the front is H. Jack of Diamonds and Hosta Abiqua Drinking Gourd is in the back.

Hosta Guacomola

H. Guacomola can be hard to grow but can make a huge beautiful plant.

Hosta Sagae

H. Sagae is a variegated upright growing hosta and make a big show in the garden bed!

Hostas are wonderful plants to grow but like all plants they require special conditions. Every hosta has different shade and sun requirements. Before planting your hosta research to determine it’s specific shade and sun requirements. Hostas require acidic and aerated soil conditions. Add mini pine bark, (never use oak mulch) a lot of coffee grinds to your soil. Water and fertilizer regularly with a liquid all purpose fertilizer along with fish emulsion. I used the Alaska brand fish emulsion.

Slug and snails can be a problem and will be more of a problem if you over water your hostas. Many hostas can not tolerate slugs or snail as they will eat the leaves. However, there are many hostas with leafs that the slugs and snails can not eat. Pick your hostas based on the leafs if you already have problems with slugs and snails.

If your hosta just die for no reason you might have voles. Voles will eat the roots and kill your hostas from below ground.

Very rarely but it can happen is hosta petiole rot which is caused by the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii var. delphinii. Once you have petiole rot with a hosta it is best to remove the plant and remove all soil with four feet around that plant. I have seen the fungus Sclerotium rolfsii var. delphinii consistently with oak mulch. However, there is not evidence that oak mulch causes this fungus.

Check out my Bluebird Houses, they make great gifts and you will enjoy watching the Bluebird nest! Building Bluebird Houses are fun and rewarding.

I have been really busy making birdhouses this year, so far nearly 80 houses total. Coming soon a new Bluebird house!

 

 

 

 

Garden Snails

 Home

Slow as they go…

I walked out on our deck this morning and found this snail. Now let me tell you the real story. Our deck is 55 to 60 feet off the ground! I wonder how long it took him to make it to the top of our deck and why? We have a couple of potted geraniums up there, table and chairs. He couldn’t be coming to eat the geranium, or could he?

Every garden has snails, especially if you grow hosta and other shade plants that are prone to be eaten by snails. I find most of them in my shade garden. They are nocturnal so they will travel around mostly at night. If I have a problem with them eating my plants I will usually go snail hunting after dark. I use my hands to pick up the snails but use tooth picks to get the big slugs. On my snail hunting nights I can easily fill a small 6 ounce cup with them.

Some species of snails hibernate during the cold months covering their bodies with a thin layer of mucus. The mucus prevents them from drying out. Did you know that snails can live from 5 to 25 years depending on their habitat and species.

A Surprise Package

Round Cutting Boards with Handle