Felpham and Middleton Horticultural Society
The day has come – when the society can return to its usual routine and on February 24 John and June Baker came to tell us all about Hostas and how to look after them.
It was not really a surprise to learn the origin was in the Manchurian area of China, however, plants soon found their way into Russia, Japan and Korea arriving in Europe via Englebert Kaemper of the Dutch India Company in 1716 and first raised from seed outside China in Paris in 1785.
They were first catalogued in the Hemerocallis day lily family but were given their own genera by Kew Gardens when it was clear they were not a lily.
First thought to be tender and costing large sums of money it was found that actually they were hardy to grow outside even in our winters.
John and June are well qualified to talk on Hostas having devoted their garden to many hundreds of varieties collected from all over the world.
Interspersed with colourful lilies, acers, dahlias and hydrangeas their hostas cover the ground and walls which is why their garden, which is opened for the National Garden Scheme, is called the Hanging Hosta Garden!
The garden has also been featured in magazines also on Gardeners’ World and a Youtube clip entitled ‘Hanging Hostas of Hampshire’.
The many varieties of hybrid are given names that seem to suit such as ‘Snake Eyes’ the leaf markings looking remarkably like that or where the leaves remain in a flattened, closed position and look just like ‘Praying Hands’.
Amazingly some varieties have huge leaves such as ‘Sum and Substance’ where they can be 16 inches across and ‘Empress Wu’ can reach 25 inches!
The leaves can have a blue tinge caused by a thin waxy covering, plain green, yellow and variegation of all sorts, one at least with a wavy edge and many with a stripey or bumpy surface.
The plants produce a pretty tall flower usually in July which can be white through blue to purple depending on the variety.
The blue/green prefer a shady spot, the variegated and yellow more sun.
They are useful in pots which not only keep them away from slugs and snails but mean they can be used to fill vacant spots in the garden or rearrangeable displays.
It would be wrong not to mention the beautiful miniature ‘Mouse’ Hostas which follow the same sort of colourways and have names such as ‘Church Mouse’ so called because the very small leaves do look like mouse ears!
Having mentioned slugs and snails, June has several different remedies such as – one large or two small bulbs of garlic boiled in one litre of water for five minutes, discard the pulp and dilute two tablespoons of the garlic juice in one litre of water or diluted Epsom salts or left over strong coffee or, less organic but strangely good for leaf production, one measure of household ammonia diluted by nine of the same measure of water.
The concoction of choice can then be used to spray the plants approximately every two weeks.
All in all a most interesting talk accompanied by good photography of varieties and parks and gardens across the world visited by John and June in their pursuit of Hostas.
The next meeting will be held at St Mary’s Church Hall, Felpham, at 7.30pm on March 24 with the topic ‘Treading Gently Through the Borders’ – speaker Ben Pope, head gardener and lecturer at West Dean College.