Monday, June 22, 2015

The next volunteer Hosta Activity!

The gazebo in Diepenheim
Wednesday 26 August
9:00 am is the next
volunteer day !
Shovel, hoe and rake,
bucket and tub
Bring them along!
Coffee, tea and lunch are provided!
Please register by email!

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Summer Garden Tour!

 Saturday the 13 of June! Almost 100 members of The Dutch Hosta Society took part and enjoyed a great day out! It was time for the Summer garden tour in the "Achterhoek" in The Netherlands! There were three gardens, all with Hostas as the stars of the garden!
 We started at The Botter Hutte in Halle!
 The Hosta Leaf Show, Best Hosta in pot and Newest Hosta were part of the programme and there were quite a few participants!
 There was serious consideration while looking for the "Wow factor" for the People's Choice award!
50 shades of green!
 Kees Hensen gave a great presentation about his three year trial with Hosta 'Kees'! There were beauties such as Upper Case, Lower Case and Beauty Case! Let's see what the future holds with Hosta 'Kees'!
 Then we headed off through the lovely country side to the private garden of our member in Winterswijk! Then the rain came! After four weeks of dry weather, and at the moment that we arrived, it rained!
 But that didn't put us off! The party tent was already set up and the home made hot soup was ready! We had time to wander along garden paths and through different garden areas where more than 200 different kinds of Hostas were looking beautiful in the rain!
 And here's a bit of creative garden art!
Just as the blue sky returned it was time to head off to the next address!
 Tea Garden Rensink in Aalten!
There's around 350 kinds of Hostas here! 
 "Hello! Welcome!
 Come inside!
 All is well? 
Great that you're here!
 Coffee's ready! 
Cookie as well?"
 The planting ideas are great!
And maybe a project for "the weekend" ?!
If you are in the neighbourhood, do stop by!
What a day! But it's not over yet! Then we went back to Halle! Time to round off the day with a drink and a bite to eat and to hear who all won!  A great time was had by all! Slowly the guests headed home with new Hostas, photo's, idea's and friendship's, old and new ! Hosta! The Friendship plant!
 The next activity The Dutch Hosta Society will be taking part in is at the Garden Fair  at Krijn Spaan on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of August! See you there!

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

The Gazebo in Diepenheim!

 The Dutch Hosta Society spent a warm sunny day in Diepenheim
taking stock of a Hosta collection in a exceptional garden !
A double row of 136 Copper Beeches surrounds
 and gives shadow to the 1393 strong Hosta collection!
 Designed by the Belgian artist Urbain Mulkers  (1945-2002).
 "The copper beeches form a solid frame for the painting. The painting is built up from 1000 green tints. All thinkable tints of green,dark green, light green, blue green, chartreuse, yellow green, gold green, dull, shiny and frosted form the painter's pallet!"
  The original pattern!
 Hosta beds and paths of bark mulch form an abstract image of the veins of a Hosta leaf. Visitors see an impressionistish painting!
There was very little, I should say no real slug damage!
When we did find one, we recorded it too!
 We enjoyed coffee, lunch, an afternoon break and had a chance to search through a few forgotten, weed filled and left behind Hostas! We were like kids in a candy store! Today's group of volunteers had a huge wealth of Hosta knowledge !
 There's still a lot to do! We're all eager to go back in August to continue the inventory and get weeding! Extra hands are always welcome! See you in Diepenheim!