Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Hosta Quiz 2!

It's November! The Hostas are getting ready for the winter! Some are showing their Autumn colours longer than others! When things get a bit slower out in the garden any your attention turns to days flipping through the catalogues in search of next years favorites, why not give Hosta Quiz number 2 a try! All 10 photo's are a name of a Hosta! Have fun!

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Summer Garden Tour!

 
Hello! The members of The Dutch Hosta Society had a great day for their Summer garden and nursery tour!   We started the day at Heemskerk Plants ! A tour of their business, inside and out, was an eye opener and enjoyed by all! There was time for soup and sandwiches before we had to leave for the second stop of the day! But wait! Don't forget your Hostas! Thanks to Heemskerk Plants for giving each of todays participants two Hostas! Hosta Color Festival and Hosta Coloured Hulk!
 The next sunny stop was in Warmond at Ellie's 3000m2 garden! We were greeted with tea, coffee and cake and listened while Ellie explained a bit about the garden! Then we were free to wander around and explore or join Ellie in a garden tour!
The third stop on our day out was in Katwijk! The "Festina Lente Tuin". This is a garden nursery where you could also "cut  your own" bouquet! There were a lot of happy faces as bags were filled! By the end of the afternoon members of The Dutch Hosta society started heading home. Home to Germany, Belgium and all parts of The Netherlands!  We had a great day catching up with friends, meeting new and discovering a bit more of The Netherlands that you wouldn't get a chance to see if you weren't a member of The Dutch Hosta Society! More information? Check out NHV See you at the next activity!

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Strong in the Shade!

  Hello! Did you have a great Saturday? Didn't quite reach 18C that's for sure! But is was great for the plants and a great day at the Pinetum in Hilversum for the first "Strong in the Shade" plant market! A good turn out of people that were truly interested in plants for the shade! The Dutch Hosta Society fit right in!
 At 8 am the participants were there, unloading and setting up!
The Conifer Society!
 Nursery De jonkheer with plants for shady areas!
 International Camelia Society from Belgium!
 The Fern Society!
We had a great time talking a lot about slugs!
And the use of Garlic Extract!
And sharing tips about a few of our favorites!
Discovered something new!
Nursery Krijn Spaan will host their
 "Open Garden Day" in August!
Then in was soon 5 pm(17.00) and time to pack up! You should have seen what the Rhododendron Society brought! This trailer was full of beautiful flowering Rhododendrons! But I have to ask, if you're a member of the Rhododendron Society, how big is your garden? LOL! Ferns, Hostas, mini Conifers, ok. But Rhododendrons?  There was something green for everyone today!
 And another Hosta was added my list!
I came home with a few new Hostas! Hosta Alakazaam, H. June, H. Marilyn Monroe, H. Yello Splash, H. Devon Green, H. Spring Fling and one with purple stems! So you see, Summer is off to a great Hosta start! See you at the Pinetum next year! Then next weekend, the 7th and 8th of June, Hosta World in Barneveld hosts there "Open House"! You can go visit their Hosta Nursery! And in two weeks, 15th of June, is the Summer Garden Tour with The Dutch Hosta Society! See you there!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Hostas!

 I have been looking around the garden, admiring the Hostas! 
 I think I have space for just a few more !
If you are in Hilversum this weekend, the 1st of June, and would like to visit a lovely garden and learn more about plants for shady places  then the "Strong in the Shadow" plant fair might be for you! Van der Lindenlaan 125  1217PJ Hilversum    See you there!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Hello! These are the same Hostas, but two weeks older!  Hostas are growing! A bit of rain and warm Spring days are encouraging! A month and a half until The Dutch Hosta Society's Summer garden tour! There's a great day planned! More details and photo's can be found here ! Do you have space in your garden or empty pots that need filling? Better start planning, because there's always a "must have" Hosta on such a day out! See you there!

Monday, April 15, 2013

Spring Time!

Hello! Today it's the15th of April! Here in The Netherlands, we have had a cold start to Spring! One of the coldest and for weeks, also very dry! Now that we've had some rain and the sun is shining, with temperatures nearing 18C this week, we can see the first signs of Hostas in the garden! Here, the Dutch word for the point growing out of the ground is a "Hostaneus". That translates into English as a Hosta nose! Great! I like that! Have you been out seeing which Hostas are the first to appear? I've heard that the "Hostaneus" of Hosta Wolverine was spotted on the 4th of April! That's promising!
On the 15th of June, the Dutch Hosta Society's Summer Garden and Nursery Tour is taking place! That's just in two months time! The volunteers have organised and planned a great Hosta day out!  You can check out the "Nederlandse Hosta Vereniging" website here for more information! See you there!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

 Spring is almost here! The Dutch Hosta Society's Hosta Study Day is March 2nd at the Wageningen University! First guest speaker is Gert Fortgens! He will be talking about Trompenburg  Arboretum and gardens and Hostas!
 The second guest speakers are Jan and Ina Kruit ! They moved from The Netherlands to Germany a few years ago and will be sharing their story about moving a garden full of Hostas! Then just before lunch there will be a presentation of the new website for the Nederlandse Hosta vereniging ! After lunch the Annual General Meeting will take place. Then, just before it's time to head home, there's "Hosta hour" with coffee, tea and a snack! And! There's always time for a chat about Hostas with new friends and familliar faces before you head home! See you there?! I'll be the one wearing the green t-shirt!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Snow covers the ground and freezing temperatures through to the weekend! Tme to get thinking about this years upcoming Hosta events! March 2nd is the Hosta Study Day at The Wageningen University. And! If you're in The Netherlands on the 1st of June there is a Plants for in the Shade Market in Hilversum! Strong in the Shadow! The Dutch Hosta Society will be there!