Viktoria Serafin
By this time I am sure we are all ready for more hostas! Can*t say it has been a long, cold winter, though; as I type this, we are having March in January.
The Executive Committee is still making plans for meetings, sales and tours in the coming season. Janet Vinyard has put together a really great group of hostas that will be offered to members at the May which will take place at the Landis Arboretum. She is also working on a by-subscription-only pre-sale, but I*ll let her tell you all about that. The Daltons and Kent Terpening are working on arranging two tours of local gardens in the summer, and we hope this opportunity will be enjoyed by members, who have not been able to participate in the tours further away. I also look forward to seeing members* gardens.
This is my last year as President. Election of officers will be held in September at our picnic and sale at Glenbrook Farm. The Nominating Committee will be looking for candidates for the positions of President and Vice President plus any others that might not have been filled in the meantime. Carol Mastromarchi is still hoping to step down and yield the position of Secretary to another member. Please consider taking on this important job. The position of Program Chair is still open, too. Various members stepped forward at the last meeting and offered to make arrangements for one speaker/meeting each, so we are covered for this year. It is not too early to start planning ahead for the following year. The best speakers are often booked ahead a year or more. Remember, as the Chair, you can still recruit volunteers to handle individual events, but it would be helpful to have one person overseeing the job. I want to thank Dawn Haas for stepping forward and taking over the position of Librarian and we thank Pat Neaton for her service over the years.
The Executive Committee will meet a half-hour prior to the start of the general meeting.
March 2nd Meeting - 1:00 p.m.
Speaker - To Be Announced
Schenectady County Public Library
99 Clinton Street
Schenectady, NY
April 6th Meeting - 1:00 p.m.
Speaker: David Jennings
Topic: Asexual Propagation of Hostas
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Reynolds Street, Scotia, NY
May 11th Meeting - 1:00 p.m.
Member Plant Sale and Tour
George Landis Arboretum
Esperence, NY
September 14th Meeting - 1:00 p.m.
Annual Member Picnic - Bring a dish to share
Glenbrook Farm
Fultonville, NY
********************
Officers:
President: Viktoria Serafin
Vice President: Bill Storz
Recording Secretary: Carol Mastromarchi
Treasurer: Joan Stoffels
Membership Chair: Linda Storz
Newsletter Editors: Jim & Meg Dalton
Webmasters: Jim & Meg Dalton
Hospitality: Linda Montanaro
Librarian: Dawn Haas
Plant Acquisitions: Janet Vinyard
Hosta Sitter Program: Dan & Joanne Maier
and Janet Vinyard
Program and Summer Tours Chair:
Vacant
A Long and Winding Road
By Mary Chastain
Have you joined the vast crowd of seed planting hostaholics? Are you anticipating the development of a mass of fascinating new hostas? Do you envision the registration of a prizewinning hosta in the near future? The road that must be traveled between the time of planting a seed until the registration of a plant is long, winding and often expensive. The knocks and bumps along thispath may result in loss of purpose. Let*s assume the planting of 2,000 seeds. Seeds resulting from this summer planted in the fall or winter will produce plants that need to be evaluated for a period of five or more years.
From two thousand seeds you may expect four of five plants worthy of consideration. If we are to maintain an ongoing, thriving hosta world to meet the needs of hosta fans, good is not good enough. It is necessary to select plants of quality that have something special not found in the average hosta. That something special could be exceptional size either extremely large or very small. It could be a unique color combination or an interesting finish on the leaf surface. An interesting growth pattern, such as unusual variegation, might be worthy of consideration. Flowers offer many possibilities that could enhance a plant and make it special enough for selection. Even though desirable and to me necessary, one or all of these factors still will not make a plant worthy unless it also is vigorous and healthy. We need plants with good substance that will still look great at the end of a long hot dry summer. We need hostas that are not devoured by every slug or snail that enters the garden. We need new introductions that are distinct from those already on the market. To minimize the cost and labor necessary in maintaining these seedlings for several years, it is important to begin culling early and continue the process regularly. I begin culling when the seedlings are up with no more than two leaves. At this stage all of the plants of very poor substance are removed from the seed trays and discarded. Others are transplanted into trays that contain 72 cells. The second culling takes place about six to eight weeks later or at the time the seedlings are transferred from the small cells into four-inch containers. At this time seedlings that have not grown well and seedlings that have muddy colors are discarded. By mid-April the young plants are ready to be moved outside.
At this time I begin to divide the seedlings into three groups. Group one holds those that seem to be promising. Group two has just average looking things that may contain something great but it would be a nice surprise. Group three is made up of things that will likely be rejected by fall. Many of the plants do not make it even into group three. The seedlings are now about six months old and at least one-third to one-half of them have been rejected. By October the seedlings are one year old. Many of them have been filling a two-gallon container for the past months. At this time any plants that show early dormancy or an unattractive leaf finish are discarded. The plants are reevaluated twice a year for the next three to four years.
Several years later, success at last, there are at least three plants judged worthy of introduction! Depending upon the variety normally there will be between five and ten plants per clump. The road winds around another curve and up a few more hills as you wait for another five years to have enough stock plants to offer the public. Ten eyars have passed and it is time to balance the books. The man-hours involved, the cost of fertilizers, the water and electric bills, plus any soil and containers used for growing all add up to quite a sum. If your new variety is a variegated plant the road has some extra bumps and adds a few more miles to the trip. Some plants will not stabilize in five years. So you wait and wait. Sometimes the plant may appear stable but once the clump is divided it reverts to streaks. Once selected, the variegated plant should be removed from the streaked clump and given a couple of years to prove that it remains true. By now you and this plant have been on the road for eight years and still there is the waiting period to produce increase. The trip has been so long that you decide to go to Tissue culture for increase. Great, it takes the lab about two years to have plants back to you. Now you have a hundred plants and the road continues. You need to grow and evaluate these plants for at least two years. So add the cost of the lab plus the loss of plants that had to be culled plus some more man hours, etcs. Now you have added another four years to the eight. The plant has been twelve years in the making. Reprinted from Michigan Hosta Happenings and Hosta Highlights.
UNYHS MAY HOSTA SALE
The hosta purchased for the club sale this year reflect the choices and comments from the members who filled out the questionnaire. Many thanks to those of you who took the time to make known your preferences and budget limits. It was fun to see hosta listed on the wish list that were featured at the year's slide presentations. Many, as Kent told us, are not yet available in the trade. Other lists contained many of the fine hosta growing well in several of our members' gardens. I see that we have a good note-taking crowd! Your input made my job quite a bit easier. The big sale is in May, of course, but we also sold hosta on the garden tour in June and at the annual picnic. Please take time to review the following list of hosta expected for this year's sale then get on line to see photos, other descriptions and prices. I'm sure there is something for everyone.
SMALL GROWING HOSTA
'Abiqua Ariel' (Walden West/ Hyslop1999) A small gold hosta with a rounded leaf that has a powdery finish similar to the bloom on a blue. Some puckering and great substance. Lavender flowers.
'Kiwi Blue Baby' (G.Collier/Sligh 1999) A "Halcyon" hybrid with wonderfully frosty blue leaves that mature to a deep blue and have heavily impressed veins and tremendous substance. Forms a very nice rounded clump that almost has the symmetry of a star and is topped with soft lavender flowers.
MEDIUM GROWING HOSTA
'Alex Summers' (V. Santa Lucia 1989) A sport of "Gold Regal" named after on of the founders and the first president of the American Hosta Society. It has dark green leaves framed with a wide bright gold margin. Leaves of heavy substance are held upright creating a vase-shaped clump which is topped with lavender flowers in midsummer.
'Blackfoot' ( Plater-Zyberk/Solberg 1994) Bright yellow-gold foliage almost electric in the spring---leaves are spoon shaped and have very dark petioles. Plant is very vigorous and the dark lavender flowers make it a stunner.
'George Smith' (George W. Smith) Plant was registered in 1983 but has only been sold in Great Britain. We are getting it through Naylor Creek who got it from a friend in Holland. The leaves have a fright yellow-gold center and it grows into a beautiful clump about 15-18 tall. It is a sport of H. sieboldiana 'Elegans' but seems to be superior to the other "same type" sieboldiana sports as it exhibits great vigor and multiplies well. It can take up to a half day of sun in the Northwest and find no burning as long as it has adequate moisture. Flowers are near white midseason.
'Maui Buttercups' (W. Vaughn 1991) A sturdy hosta that is great to look at. Leathery yellow leaves are rounded, cupped and heavily puckered. Violet flowers on 18" scapes .
'My Friend Nancy' TC (Benedict/Krul 1991 Leaves of green to blue green with a white margin that varies in width and can be as wide as 1". Great substance and tidy appearance topped with violet flowers makes this a beautiful plant.
'Pathfinder' TC (Briggs Nursery 1999) A new sport of "Francee" that has very thick leaves (definitely a tetraploid) with creamy-white centers that are speckled green and a wide slightly rippled, matching dark green margin. The leaves are somewhat shiny, lightly corrugated and quite round but come to a point. The pale purple flowers are held on white scapes with purple spots and appear midseason. This plant seems to exhibit tremendous vigor for a hosta with as much white in the leaf. Likes several hours of morning sun.
LARGE GROWING HOSTA
'American Halo' TC (Wade 1999) This selection from the Northern Halo group of hosta was chosen by Van Wade of Ohio for its superior form and beauty. It is distinguished with larage blue leaves circled with a wonderful wide creamy-white margin. White flowers in early season This hosta has won many awards at the Natl Convention under its former name H. "Northern Halo Wade Form".
'Lakeside Blue Jeans' (M. Chastain 1995) Leaves are intense blue, come to a point and have tremendous substance. Upright growth habit, somewhat cupped and corrugated leaves, white flowers
'Lakeside San Kao' (M. Chastain 1995) This unique plant emerges lime-green, then turns yellow and by mid summer the color changes to a whitish parchment with deeply embedded bright green veins. The clump grows rapidly making a grand display of the heart-shaped leaves and lavender flowers.
'Niagara Falls' (Brincka/Petryszyn 1991) Large heart-shaped gray green leaves stand upright and arch outward each leaf has a dramatically rippled margin (sometimes this doesn't show up until the second year) and violet flowers.
'Paradigm' (Walden-West/Purtymun 1999) Shiny gold leaves with a blue-green margin of this sport of H. "Abiqua Recluse". The variegation intensifies as the season progresses and the substance is superb. Lavender flowers.
'Silk Kimono' TC (Gowen/Hansen/Benedict 1999) Perhaps Hideko Gowen is best known for her fine hosta collection of Japanese import. However, 'Silk Kimono' exemplifies her dedicated breeding efforts. It has broad dark green leaves margined with a slightly rippled creamy white edge. Pale lavender flowers. A sensation at the 2000 Natl Show.
for 2002
If '01 appears after your name on the address label, your dues are due. Please send your check to Linda Storz,
12 Casablanca Court, Clifton Park, NY 12065.
Beginning April 1, 2002, Annual Dues will be $10.00, renew early and save money!!
GENERAL MEETING -- OCTOBER 20, 2001
A general meeting of the Society was held on October 20, 2001 at the Schenectady Public Library. The meeting was called to order by the President Viktoria Serafin, at 1:15pm. At which time, the group observed a moment of silence in memory of all the September 11, 2001 victims.
There was no reading of the Secretary's Minutes as the Secretary was absent.
The Treasurer reported that the Society grossed $699.00 from the sale and auction of plants at the annual picnic. There was a short discussion about plant pricing at the picnic, but nothing definite was decided. It was discussed and approved that the plant acquisition committee would be allocated $500.00 for plant acquisitions for year 2002. Janet Vinyard requested that anyone with ideas about which Hosta should be consider for purchase to please let her know.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
MEMBERSHIP: The Society has approximately 119 members.
NEWSLETTER: There is a need for more contributions from membership as well as recommendations for future articles.
WEB SITE: It's up and running any input and/or comments are welcome.
HOSPITALITY: Thanks to all who continue to bring munchies and goodies to share -- THANKS!!
LIBRARIAN: Pat Neaton is vacating her position for health reasons. We were lucky to have Dawn Haas volunteer to assume these duties. She will coordinate with Pat to assume these responsibilities. Pat, the Society thanks you for a super job and wishes you the best in the future.
HOSTA SITTER: This program will remain a part of the club but will be curtailed so that it can be more effectively managed. The optimum size will be no greater that 20 Hosta out at any one time. This program will dove tail with the plant acquisition committee to offer some of the more exotic and newly hybridized Hosta to club members.
SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS and TOURS: A lot of discussion followed with these results:
1. Kent Terpening will plan a distance/main tour/visit and is working on a special speaker from England.
2. The Daltons will arrange at least one local (member garden) tour. A list was circulated and numerous Society members volunteered to host their garden. So, there may be more than one visit.
3. The speaker program will attempt to provide speakers at an economical cost of approximately $250.00.
NEW BUSINESS:
Tentative meeting schedule: (See front page of Newsletter for confirmed dates)
JANUARY/FEBRUARY Executive Committee meet
MARCH 2nd or 9th with speaker (Dan)
APRIL 6th with speaker (Dave)
MAY 11th plant sale
JUNE/JULY/AUGUST tours (Kent & Daltons)
SEPTEMBER 14th picnic at Viktoria's
OCTOBER 26TH with speaker (Linda)
The Flower Show participation was discussed and agreed that the Society would be a part of the show. The show will be held at HVCC on March 22,23, and 24, 2002. The cost of a shared booth with the Daylily and Iris Societies will be $100.00
A motion was made, by Jim Healey, to donate to the victim relief program. It was agreed to donate $50.00. Susan Steindorff indicated that her employer would match this donation. She will coordinate this with the Treasurer.
A lively discussion occurred about having vender representation and sales at our meetings. A committee was formed with Dave Jennings and several others who will look into this idea and present a proposal to the Executive Committee at their winter meeting.
The business meeting was adjourned at 2:15.
Name: Dan & Joanne Maier
Personal Information: We became interested in hostas when we stumbled into Dave and Cindy Jennings' yard during a garden tour some 4 or 5 years back. We were taken by their collection of hosta (and Cindy's daylilies!) and signed on as charter members of UNYHS.
How long have you been growing hosta? We've been growing hosta about 5 years now. We began our collection with Love Pat and H. sieboldiana Elegans and have moved on from there.
How big is your collection? We have just over 100 different hosta right now.
What is your favorite hosta(s)? Our favorite is H. June, a beautiful plant throughout the summer in our yard. As 'June' begins to fade in October, H. Blue Shadows steals the limelight. We're also fond of the sculptural lines of Krossa Regal, Gold Regal, and Sagae.
What hostas are on your wish list? Paradigm, Chantilly Lace, Golden Prayers, Edge of Night, Blue Ice and King Michael - the list gets longer and longer with each garden we visit!
What are some other plants you like to grow? Although we still consider ourselves novice gardeners, we have definitely become "plant-a-holics" and enjoy collecting a variety of unusual trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials.
Any last thoughts or comments? Our biggest challenge with growing hosta (and plants in general) is our sunny, shaly, hilly location. We have some areas of shade, but these tend to be under maples and spruces where the soil is dry and compacted. Still, in our 5-6 years of gardening we have created some lovely garden rooms, including a Japanese garden, a more formal English garden, and a struggling woodland garden.
March 22-24, 2002
Hudson Valley Community College
80 Vandenburgh Avenue (Route 4)
Troy, New York
The flower show will feature flower arranging comlpetitions, lectures, demonstations and workshops. The UNYHS will be sharing a booth with the Daylily and the Iris Societies and we need members to help staff our booth over the three days. If you are able to volunteer please contact Linda Montanero at 377-4987 or Lmontanero@webtv.net.
The show benefits Wildwood Programs, an organization which serves neurologically impaired, learning disabled and autistic individuals and their families.
Our hosta club has diverse tastes, preferences and budgets. This year we have decided to start something new. The idea is in direct response to questionnaire comments regarding what hosta you want to see in the sales. The club is offering to current members the opportunity to purchase at cost a few exclusive cultivars from some of the foremost breeders of the day. Many of you are familiar with Bob Solberg*s introductions and we start with him. We hope to rotate through many of the notable hybridizers and breeders in successive years.
THIS IS A PRE-ORDERED AND PREPAID SALE IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR SPRING FUND RAISING SALE. (See sale list and descriptions elsewhere in the newsletter.)
DEADLINE MARCH 2,2002 at the UNYHS MEETING or POSTMARKED by FEBRUARY 23,2002. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO UNYHS Exclusive Sale. Send order and check if you can't make the meeting to Janet Vinyard, 597 State Hwy 162, Sprakers, NY 12166. Keep a copy of your order. Plants are to be picked up at the Spring Sale, May 11th. If you cannot attend please make arrangements to have someone collect them for you. This is a low stress, low overhead, low risk proposition. If you want exclusive, rare , or never offered before hosta at a bargain, you can't beat these offerings.
'Whirling Dervish' Medium (NR Zilis) The ultimate bordered 'Whirlwind' sport. Dark green leaves emerge with a striking gold margin that becomes pure white by summer. Lavender flowers in July, same heavy substance and good growth rate as its parents. $15
'Grey Ghost' Large (Solberg 2000) Large mound of pointed leaves emerge near white in spring then turn butter yellow and finally blue in summer. Near white flowers in June. Sport of 'Blue Angel', that combines very pale early spring leaf color and good substance. There is no other hosta like it. $20
CLUB EXCLUSIVE 'FIRST FROST' Medium, (Scolnik, Solberg 2002) Blue tardiana leaves with a margin that emerges the gold center color of 'June' and then turns to pure frosty white. It is a sport of 'Halcyon' that holds up well until the first frost with lavender flowers early. $40
'Lily Pad' Medium (Solberg, Lombardo 2000) Shiny dark green rounded leaves with a blunt tip. Small lav. flowers in July. Unique H. yingeri seed selection from Korea. Foliage holds up well all season. $17
'Moon Lily' M/L (Harshbarger, Trott 1993) A thick substanced and cupped gold hosta between *August Moon and *Maui Buttercups* in size. Lt lav flowers in July, probably some *Tokudama* parentage. $20
'Jewel of the Nile' Large (Walek 2000) Upright mound of shiny bright blue leaves with a wide irregular gold border. Excellent substance and sun tolerance. Sport of 'Dee's Golden Jewel' Near white flowers. $25
'Nancy Gill' Medium ( K.Vaughn NR) light grey green leaves that are rounded and ruffled. The white H.pycnophylal wax is on both top and bottom of these well substanced leaves. An unusual cross of 'Sum and Substance' and H.pycnophylla. Different. $25
'One Man's Treasure' Medium (Benedict, Solberg 1999) Finally a red petioled hosta that is red on both sides of the petiole right up into the leaf blade. Shiny dark green leaves with purple flowers in August with red scapes. This is a H.longipes hypoglauca seedling. $17
PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE
Made Available to members of UNYHS
If enough people are interested, Viktoria Serafin has offered to purchase and provide to members, at cost, a nontoxic pre-emergent herbicide called GreenShield Plus.
What is a pre-emergent herbicide? It is a non-selective product that interferes with and prevents the germination of seeds. It will not prevent the growth of plants that have passed beyond the initial stage of germination. It is estimated that when applied as directed it will be 10% effective the first year, but 80 - 90% effective in subsequent years.
This particular product was developed through the efforts of Dr. Christians of Iowa State University. His research resulted in a weed control product made entirely from corn gluten meal. It is intended for both commercial and residential use.
Corn gluten meal is a 100% natural material. It is a by-product of the corn wet-milling process. Its primary use is as an ingredient in cattle, poultry, fish and dog food. The actual herbicide is composed of 88% corn gluten meal, 1% corn oil with the remainder consisting of water. It is 60% protein containing 8 -10%N, 1%P and 0%K (8-1-0). The nitrogen is in a natural slow-release form, lasting an extended period of time. Application will control weeds and contributes to healthier plants and soil. This product is food grade - you and your animals can eat it. No toxic effects of any sort under any circumstances except dust in the air, which could be irritating (like any dust), and people who cannot eat any products with gluten should not eat this, either. Corn gluten meal comes in a pelletized form for easy application.
GreenShield Plus comes in 40 lbs. bags. The application rate is 10 lbs./1000 sq. ft., so one bag covers 4000 sq. ft. The cost for a 40lb bag is $18.00. To get this price Viktoria must order a minimum of 50 bags. GreenShield can be used on the lawn (suppress weeds and crabgrass) and the garden. Two (2) bags should be plenty for a 1/4 acre lot.
The herbicide should be applied in April. Members are urged to let Viktoria know if they are interested at the March meeting or contact her directly at glnbrook@telenet.net if you can't attend the meeting. She will bring the orders to the April meeting for distribution. If you cannot get to the April meeting, special arrangements to pick up your order at Glenbrook Farm would be necessary.