Dixie Hosta

(continued from 2003 DRHS-Part 1)

Next on the agenda was Mike Chambers, (MidSouth Hosta Society) who showed interesting slides of the hardscaping project in his garden. Mike uses a variety of materials, including gravel, 2×12 pressure treated lumber, field stone and concrete pavers, for the pathways that wend through his garden. He has constructed a long, wisteria-covered arbor and smaller lattice work screens to protect his hosta from the harsh afternoon sun. Battling with tree-roots is a problem for Mike, so he utilizes containers, raised beds, and even concrete blocks to lift hosta roots above the competition.

Mike Chamber’s presentation was followed by Cornelia Holland and Delona Shockey, (Middle Tennessee HS) as they presented ideas for ‘Winter Interest in the Garden’. Once our annuals and hosta have gone down for the winter, many gardens are left with little display gardens of white or gray tags, but by adding evergreens to the garden, the winter scene can be considerably more attractive. Heleborus, Arum, Asarum, Camellias and ferns can withstand most of the winter weather we get here in the South. Cornelia had some very good slides of some of these plants taken the morning following a night of zero degree temperatures last winter. One exotic plant that she finds to be hardy in Nashville is Rohdea, commonly called The Sacred Lily. This plant has interesting, strap-like foliage with ridges and variegations. Although not inexpensive, and sometimes hard to find, Rohdea promises to bring another dimension of interest throughout the year.

Delona Shockey is also a talented stained glass artist. She has constructed a number of massive stained-glass window structures for her garden. Spectacular in the summer, these windows catch available winter light and brighten even the gloomiest winter landscape. Delona also makes beautiful stained glass stepping stones that bring color and texture. Her idea of a great gift, not diamonds but a truck load of horse manure. With over 100 acres of property to plant, Delona always has a place that needs a “dose”.

Following a buffet lunch, attendees adjourned to the hotel pool area where our vendors were set-up with hosta, companion plants, containers and Japanese Maples for sale. Thanks to Bud Martin, Ways and Means for DRHS and owner of Colonial Farms, Stockbridge, GA, for organizing our vendors:

• Richard and Annette Jolly, Pine Forest Gardens, Tyrone, GA.
• Bud Martin, Colonial Farms, Stockbridge, GA.
• Bill Silvers of Silvers-Elbert Nurseries, Athens, GA.
• Wylene Townley, Wylene’s Trees, Forest Park, GA.

Each vendor donates a portion of their sales to DRHS and we thank them all for their continuing support.

When the meetings resumed, Toni Wright, (Georgia Hosta Society) presented a brief slide presentation on Container Gardening. Toni’s garden utilizes mostly container-grown plants to overcome very poor, very wet soil that makes in-ground planting in her new garden impractical. Using containers mimics the natural conditions where many hostas in the wild grow in rock crevices and on cliff-sides. After the slides, Toni assembled a trough garden with hosta, (donated by Colonial Farms), moss, viola and creeping Jenny. This was auctioned off, and brought in an additional $110 for DRHS, bringing our auction proceeds to well over $1500. Olive Bailey Langdon, past President of AHS, was high bidder.

(continued here 2003 DRHS-Part 3)