Every podcast has an origin story. This is ours.

Welcome to the very first episode of Hosta la Vista — the only podcast dedicated entirely to hosta plants, hosta care, and the growers, collectors, and hybridizers who love them. If you're looking for the perfect shade garden plant, a low maintenance perennial that comes back bigger every year, or just the most welcoming corner of the plant collecting community — this is your show.

In this debut episode, sisters Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson introduce themselves, share how they each fell deep into the world of hostas, and explain why the hosta community deserves its own podcast. Two sisters, two climate zones, two completely different gardens — and one shared obsession with the friendship plant.

Betsy gardens on a city lot in Minnesota zone 4b, proving you don't need acreage to build a serious hosta collection. By day she's a school teacher, but her shade garden is where she truly comes alive. Her favorite hosta variety is Guardian Angel — the blue angel sport that earns its name every single season and turns first-time visitors into instant hosta collectors.

Mandy lives in Kansas zone 7a, tending a sprawling multi-acre shade garden and hosta collection while dabbling in growing hostas from seed and hybridizing her own hosta seedlings. When she's not in the garden she works as a sculptor, and that artist's eye for form, texture, and beauty shapes everything about how she sees hosta foliage — the corrugation, the cupping, the color. Her passion is the fragrant hosta plantaginea family, especially fragrant hostas like Fragrant Bouquet, where a shade perennial dares to smell as good as it looks.

Together they span zone 4 and zone 7, a city lot and several acres, beginner-friendly hosta care and serious hosta hybridizing — but share an equal and slightly unreasonable love for these remarkable shade tolerant plants and the warm, generous community that grows around them. In this first episode they lay out what Hosta la Vista will be: weekly conversations with hosta hybridizers, nursery owners, hosta collectors, show judges, and everyday shade gardeners with extraordinary stories about the best low maintenance perennial in the plant world.

Whether you have two hostas on a shady city lot or two thousand hosta varieties across several acres, whether you're zone 3 or zone 9, whether you're a seasoned collector or just discovering what to plant in the shade — you are in the right garden.

New episodes every Saturday. This is Hosta la Vista — where the shade is cool, the leaves are lush, and the friendships are perennial.

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Get a sneak peek into Hosta la Vista, the podcast where the shade is cool and the friendships are perennial! Meet your hosts, Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson — two Hosta-loving sisters who are here to celebrate The Friendship Plant with weekly chats, special guests, and plenty of leafy laughs. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just discovering the magic of Hostas, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and grow along with us — one episode at a time! Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com

Welcome to a special midweek edition of Hosta La Vista — the podcast devoted to the world of hostas, shade gardening, and the people who make this community so special.

In this episode, we’re bringing you exclusive highlights and on-the-ground field reports from the American Hosta Society Convention 2025 in Peoria, Illinois. Whether you attended and want to relive the experience, or couldn’t make it this year, we’ve got you covered with real-time insights, stories, and standout moments from one of the biggest hosta events of the year.

While Betsy reports from her own shady garden, three trusted Hosta La Vista correspondents — Alisa Bowe Lenhardt, Tanya Refshauge, and Julie Lewter — take us inside the convention. From the hosta leaf show and seedling competitions to garden tours, educational seminars, and the high-energy hosta auction, they share what’s blooming, what’s buzzing, and what collectors are most excited about right now.

Hear firsthand about:

• Award-winning hosta leaves and seedlings
• Creative garden designs and inspiring hosta landscapes
• New trends in hosta hybridizing, including future possibilities like sun-tolerant and pest-resistant hostas
• Memorable auction wins (including coveted varieties like Gunther’s Prize)
• The powerful sense of connection that makes hostas known as the “friendship plant”

This episode captures the heart of the hosta community — from first-time attendees to seasoned collectors — and highlights why the American Hosta Society Convention is a must-attend event for anyone passionate about hosta gardening, shade perennials, and plant collecting.

A huge thank you to our field correspondents for sharing their experiences and bringing the convention to life.

Mark your calendars: the 2026 American Hosta Society Convention heads to Dublin, Ohio, June 11–13.

Have questions or want to connect? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com
Don’t forget to follow Hosta La Vista on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode.

Pack your wellies and a good umbrella — Hosta La Vista is heading to England.

This week Betsy and Mandy cross the Atlantic to sit down with Ben Matthews of Worcester, England — curator of one of the most fascinating and historically significant hosta collections in the world. Ben holds the Plant Heritage designated British National Hosta Collection, focusing specifically on British hybridized hosta introductions from 1976 to 2016, comprising 32 species and an additional 350 cultivars — all tucked into a shade tunnel in a small suburban garden just three minutes from the M5. Because sometimes the most extraordinary things come in the most unassuming packages.

Ben's journey into the world of serious hosta collecting began with his mentor Una Dunnett — a fellow Worcestershire hosta enthusiast who lived down the road. When Una passed, she left her beloved collection to Ben, a gesture that speaks volumes about the trust and friendship they shared and the responsibility Ben carries as its steward. It is a story that will resonate with anyone who has ever been shaped by a generous mentor or inherited a passion from someone they loved.

Ben is a member of the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society and brings a perspective on hosta growing and conservation genuinely different from anything we've heard on this side of the ocean. The UK growing climate, the culture around botanical conservation, and the particular challenges and joys of growing hostas in an English shade garden offer a fascinating window into a parallel hosta world that most American growers never get to peek inside.

And if you ever find yourself near Worcester — Ben's collection is open by appointment and completely free to visit. Contact him at hostahouse2@gmail.com.

Topics covered:

• The British National Hosta Collection — Plant Heritage designated, Worcester England
• British hybridized hosta introductions 1976 to 2016
• The mentorship of Una Dunnett and how her legacy lives on in Ben's collection
• Growing hostas in the UK — climate, challenges, and shade gardening differences
• The Plant Heritage National Collection program and botanical conservation in Britain
• The British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society
• Stewarding a living national plant heritage collection
• Transatlantic hosta connections — what UK and US growers can learn from each other

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

This week on Hosta la Vista, we welcome Alisa Bowe Lenhardt — hosta grower, fine artist, nationally certified hosta show judge, flower arranging expert, and member of the legendary Bowe family from Ohio, one of the most respected names in the hosta hybridizing world.

Alisa brings a perspective on hostas that is genuinely unlike anyone we've had on the pod. Yes, she grows them and judges them at the highest level — including this weekend at the American Hosta Society's annual convention in Peoria, Illinois — but she also sees hostas through an artist's eye. Her fine art has been displayed at the Pittsburgh Art Museum, and that same eye for color, texture, form, and composition shapes the way she evaluates a hosta leaf on a show table and arranges them in a vase.

We dig into what it actually takes to become a nationally recognized hosta show judge — what judges are really looking for when they walk a show table, how leaves are evaluated for size, color, substance, and presentation, and what separates a blue ribbon leaf from a best in show. Whether you've never entered a hosta show or you're a seasoned competitor, Alisa's insider perspective will change how you look at the plants in your own garden.

Alisa also has her own registered hosta cultivar, and we talk about what it means to bring a named variety into the world — the patience, the selection process, and the pride of seeing your plant in someone else's garden.

One of the most important moments in this episode is Alisa's warning about HVX — Hosta Virus X. As someone who sees hundreds of hostas at shows and nurseries, she explains just how easy it is to miss the early signs of this devastating and incurable virus, what to look for, and why even experienced growers get fooled. If you grow hostas, this is essential listening.

We also talk about flower arranging with hosta foliage — how the bold leaves, varied textures, and striking colors of hostas make them exceptional material for arrangements, and why hosta leaves outlast almost any cut flower you pair them with. Alisa shares how to think about hostas not just as garden plants but as living art.

And for anyone just getting started with hostas, Alisa has practical, encouraging advice on where to begin, what to look for, and how the world of hosta shows can take your passion to a whole new level.

This is a rich, inspiring conversation with a woman who lives at the beautiful intersection of horticulture and art.

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Can you grow hostas in Florida? In Zone 9? Zone 10? Zone 11? David Bowe has tried. And in this episode he tells you exactly what he learned.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with hosta hybridizer David Bowe — a man who spent decades breeding some of the most personality-packed cultivars in the hosta world, relocated to Miami, and refused to stop being curious about plants. He just had to find different ones.

David has registered over 30 hosta cultivars, many of them as memorable for their names as their leaves. Bottle Rockets. Cupid's Bow. Beau Brummell. Summer Rainbow. His hybrids aren't just beautiful — they have a sense of humor, which in a field full of perfectionists is genuinely refreshing. In this conversation he shares what it's like to watch a tiny seedling become a named variety, how he decides which plants make the cut, and why he doesn't take himself too seriously.

But the real twist in David's story is Miami. After decades of hosta hybridizing in Ohio, he relocated to Zone 11 — where the blazing heat makes growing hostas nearly impossible. We dig deep into what that transition looked like, what he learned about attempting to overwinter hostas in Zones 9 through 11, whether it's actually worth trying, and what warm climate gardeners can realistically expect when they refuse to give up on their favorite shade plant.

And when hostas finally said goodbye, David said hello to orchids — applying the same hybridizing curiosity, patience, and eye for the unusual to a whole new genus in a whole new climate. You just can't keep a good hybridizer down.

Whether you're a collector, a hybridizer in training, a warm climate gardener desperately googling whether hostas can survive a Florida summer, or just someone who appreciates a hosta with a sense of humor — this episode is for you.

Topics covered:

• Can you grow hostas in Florida — honest answers for Zone 9, 10, and 11 gardeners
• How to overwinter hostas in warm climates — tips, tricks, and reality checks
• Growing hostas in Zone 11 — what works, what doesn't, and whether it's worth it
• David Bowe's 30+ registered hosta cultivars — Bottle Rockets, Cupid's Bow, Beau Brummell, Summer Rainbow and more
• How hosta hybridizers choose which seedlings make the cut
• Relocating from Ohio to Miami and leaving a hosta garden behind
• From hostas to orchids — applying hybridizing skills in a new climate
• Humor, creativity, and personality in hosta naming and breeding

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

This week on Hosta la Vista, we sit down with Don Rawson — hosta hybridizer, curator of the legendary Hosta List database, creator of the Hostas of Distinction website, and one of the most quietly influential figures in the entire hosta world. Don grows on four acres near Grand Rapids, Michigan, makes up to 11,000 intentional crosses per summer starting at 6:00 AM, plants around 20,000 seeds per year, and has introduced over 20 cultivars including Rhinohide, Gabriel's Wing, Razorback, Alligator Rock, Granny's Goosebumps, Catcher's Mitt, Gator Bowl, and Gatorhide. This is the episode hosta collectors and hybridizers have been waiting for.

Don traces his hosta journey from childhood — his mother's plants, falling in love with the genus in the 1980s before the internet made finding hostas easy — through building his home garden in 1992, to becoming one of the most serious hybridizers working today. He walks us through his entire process: protecting breeding plants, bringing selected parents inside the night before, making crosses outdoors at dawn, collecting seed in fall, planting 60 to 65 flats, and ultimately keeping only 1,800 to 2,000 of roughly 15,000 germinated seedlings. The rest get composted. Yes, really.

Betsy asks Don about Alligator Rock — her personal favorite hosta — and Don reveals the backstory: it was actually Bob Solberg who spotted it in Don's hybridizing garden before Don had even marked it to save. Along with Granny's Goosebumps, Bob pulled it out of the crowd and said this one matters. Don describes what makes it special: extremely corrugated dark green shiny foliage, dense growth, beautiful white flowers. We also dig deep into Catcher's Mitt — one of the most unique cupped hostas in existence, with vertical cups that show the white leaf backs rather than the inside, a dark green margin hidden inside the cup, and an exclusive release coming through In The Country Garden and Gifts. And Gator Bowl, currently in tissue culture production, which Don describes as extremely cupped with four-inch cups, deeply corrugated, dark green with pure white flowers.

Don shares his vision for where hosta hybridizing is headed — red and purple leaved hostas that hold their color all summer, variegated hostas with red or purple centers and margins, bronze and pink leaved varieties, double flowers, and crosses between hostas and related genera like agave and manfreda that could produce deer resistant and drought tolerant hybrids. He also points out that hybridizers are only working with about 28 of the 38 to 41 known hosta species — meaning the potential for future development is staggering.

On HVX, Don is direct and practical. He explains that just because you can't see Hosta Virus X on a plant does not mean it isn't there. He walks through his recommended tool sterilization routine using a 10% bleach solution — fresh every couple of hours, rinse your tools after or they'll rust, never reuse it the next day. He also warns against composting hosta leaves and scapes if you suspect any disease or nematode presence in your garden.

Don also shares his advice for anyone wanting to get serious about hybridizing: find local growers, join Facebook seedling groups, set specific goals, and get a copy of the Hybridizers Manual — a 170-page illustrated compilation of articles from hybridizers who came before, available directly from Don.

We play Finish the Rhyme and in This or That he picks massive cupped leaves over red every time, keeps the weirdest seedlings, and admits he's guilty of hand pollinating in a thunderstorm.

His parting advice: gardening is meant to be fun. Don't make it a job. Have fun, and pass it on.

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Before Niagara Falls existed, Olga Petryszyn painted it. Before Coast to Coast was growing in gardens from sea to shining sea, she dreamed it into being on watercolor paper. Then she spent decades making every single one of them real.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy are fully fangirling — and we make no apologies. We are joined by the one and only Olga Petryszyn of Northern Indiana — known worldwide as The Hosta Lady, winner of the prestigious Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Award, Master Judge of the American Hosta Society, and the creative force behind some of the most beloved hosta cultivars in existence.

Olga's journey into hybridizing began in 1986 under the guidance of master gardener and Art Institute of Chicago professor Bill Brincka — a mentor and dear friend whose influence on her craft and her life cannot be overstated. It was Bill who first opened her eyes to what hostas could become, and the hosta world has never been the same since.

Her Americana Collection includes some of the most recognizable cultivars in the hosta world — Niagara Falls, Coast to Coast, Manhattan, Grand Canyon, Key West, Blue Hawaii, Chesapeake Bay, Golden Gate, Gone with the Wind, Mississippi Delta, Gotham, All That Jazz, Dawn's Early Light, Old Faithful, Brother Stefan, and more. Coast to Coast was the 2020 Hosta of the Year. Brother Stefan was the 2017 Hosta of the Year. If you grow hostas, you almost certainly grow Olga.

Topics covered:

• The origin story of the Americana Collection — from watercolor paintings to world renowned hostas
• The art and science of hosta hybridizing — form, color, texture, and genetics
• The influence of mentor Bill Brincka on Olga's life and career
• Cultivar spotlights — Niagara Falls, Coast to Coast, Brother Stefan, Key West, Blue Hawaii and more
• The Eunice Fisher Distinguished Hybridizer Award
• Growing giant hostas — tips from the master herself
• What makes a hosta worthy of introduction to the market

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

What if gardening wasn't just a hobby — but a path to healing? This episode of Hosta La Vista goes somewhere a little deeper than usual, and we think it might be one you'll want to share.

This week, Betsy and Mandy head to Cuyahoga County, Ohio to sit down with Barb Rauckhorst — President of the North Coast Hosta Society, proud Master Gardener, and someone whose personal connection to the garden goes well beyond beautiful leaves and shade beds. Barb's story touches on something that stopped Betsy in her tracks: horticultural therapy — the practice of using gardening and plant-based activities to support healing, wellness, and mental health.

Barb shares how she fell in love with hostas, what it takes to lead one of Ohio's most active local hosta societies, and what the Master Gardener program really means to the people in it. Her warmth and passion for community gardening come through in every answer — and her personal connection to horticultural therapy gives this conversation a dimension that goes far beyond plant talk.

After the interview wraps, Betsy dives into the history of horticultural therapy — a practice with roots stretching back centuries that is only now getting the mainstream recognition it deserves. If you've never heard of it, you're not alone. Betsy hadn't either — until Barb's story sent her down a research rabbit hole that she is very glad she fell into.

Horticultural therapy is used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, memory care facilities, correctional institutions, veterans programs, and mental health treatment — and the evidence behind it is growing. If you work in healthcare, wellness, or education, or if you've ever found yourself feeling genuinely better after time in the garden and wondered why — this episode will resonate.

This is one of those episodes that listeners have been passing along. We think you'll understand why once you hear it.

Topics covered:

• What is horticultural therapy and how does it work
• The history of horticultural therapy — from ancient practice to modern treatment
• Horticultural therapy in hospitals, memory care, veterans programs, and mental health treatment
• Barb Rauckhorst's personal connection to healing through gardening
• Leading the North Coast Hosta Society in Cuyahoga County, Ohio
• What the Master Gardener program is and what it means to participants
• Growing membership and community in a local hosta society
• Why gardening is good for your mental health — and the science behind it

To learn more about horticultural therapy, visit the American Horticultural Therapy Association at www.ahta.org.

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

This week on Hosta la Vista, we sit down with Dr. Mary Lewnes Albrecht — horticulture professor, Master Gardener, botanic garden volunteer, communications director of the East Tennessee Hosta Society, and Vice President of Genus for the American Hosta Society. Mary brings a rare combination of academic depth and genuine gardener's heart to everything she does, and this conversation is one of our favorites.

Mary's love of plants goes back to age five, helping her mom in the yard. She went on to earn her doctorate and spend 16 years teaching herbaceous plant materials at Kansas State University — yes, the same K-State that Betsy and Mandy attended — before joining the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where she eventually retired and became a volunteer at the UT Gardens, tending her adopted spot in the hosta garden.

We talk about what the VP of Genus actually does for the AHS — working alongside the hosta registrar, encyclopedia contributors, and education programmers — and Mary shares her refreshingly grounded take on hosta taxonomy: plant families are a human construct, she reminds us, and sometimes you just need to chill about the botany and enjoy the beauty.

On the growing side, Mary gardens in Tennessee, where heat and humidity create a different set of challenges than the Midwest. She's noticed that minis struggle in southern heat, that yellows and whites need more morning sun to perform well in warmer climates, and that some hostas that look spectacular in photos from up north simply don't reach the same size down south. Her current showstopper? Summer's Rainbow — a sport of Sum and Substance — which she received from a friend and which stops every single garden visitor in their tracks.

Mary talks about her favorite large and giant hostas — Blue Umbrellas, Paul's Glory, Liberty, Stained Glass — and makes a compelling case for why big, bold hostas are where the real drama lives in a shade garden. She also shares what she's observed about hostas and human wellbeing, including a graduate student's research that actually measured blood pressure before and after visiting a botanic garden. Spoiler: gardens are good for you.

We also hear about the 2025 AHS Convention in Peoria — the serendipitous connections, shopping at Hornbaker Gardens in 90-degree heat, and why Mary drove 9 to 10 hours and came home with a restrained but respectable 8 new hostas. She tells us why first-time convention attendees should absolutely go — not for the leaf show, but for the people.

We play Finish the Rhyme, and in a Tennessee-flavored This or That, she picks Kansas City burnt ends, Dollywood over the Grand Ole Opry, and Lookout Mountain over Hot Springs every time.

Mary's parting advice is simple and perfect: enjoy hostas, challenge yourself, and try a new one every now and then.

If you love shade gardening, collecting hosta varieties, or just want to spend time with someone who has dedicated her career and her retirement to plants and the people who grow them — this episode is for you.

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If you've ever dreamed of a garden that feels like it was conjured rather than planted — with winding paths, handcrafted sculptures, a waterfall, a pond, tucked away sheds built by hand, and hostas around every corner — Kathy Pedersen's Heavenly Hostas in Shakopee, Minnesota is exactly that place.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Kathy for one of the warmest, funniest, and most insightful conversations we've had yet. Kathy is a grower, a guide, and the heart behind one of the Midwest's most beloved award-winning cottage shade gardens — a private wonderland that visitors can actually experience in person, by appointment.

And yes, if she has the plant and you ask nicely, she just might dig up a piece for you to take home. Find her on Facebook — she's responsive, generous, and genuinely loves connecting with fellow hosta enthusiasts.

Kathy shares what she looks for in a great plant, what it means to have a show garden, and how she thinks about micro-climates when designing her layered cottage shade garden spaces. But perhaps the most special part of this conversation is the story of her lifelong friendship with legendary hosta hybridizer Hideko Gowen — and how that relationship quietly shaped her entire path in the hosta world.

Heavenly Hostas isn't just a garden. It's a reflection of decades of passion, friendship, artistry, and an almost unreasonable love of shade plants. The handcrafted sculptures, the hand built sheds, the waterfall, the pond — every corner of this cottage shade garden tells a story. And Kathy tells them all beautifully.

Topics covered:

• Touring Heavenly Hostas — an award-winning private cottage shade garden in Shakopee, Minnesota
• Designing a cottage shade garden with waterfalls, ponds, paths, and handcrafted sculptures
• Understanding micro-climates and how to use them in shade garden design
• What Kathy Pedersen looks for in a great hosta
• Kathy's lifelong friendship with legendary hosta hybridizer Hideko Gowen
• How to visit Heavenly Hostas by appointment and purchase plants directly from Kathy
• What it means to open a private garden as a show garden
• Shade garden inspiration for collectors and beginner gardeners alike

Want to visit Heavenly Hostas or inquire about plants? Find Kathy Pedersen on Facebook — she loves hearing from fellow shade garden enthusiasts and is happy to arrange visits and plant purchases by appointment.

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

If you've ever been quietly talked into doing something for the hosta world by someone who made it sound completely reasonable at the time — congratulations. You've been Bobbed.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Andy Marlow of Hopkins, Minnesota — former President of the American Hosta Society, Photo Editor of The Hosta Journal, master photographer, retired college radio host, and hosta renaissance man. Andy has been growing hostas since 1979 and has spent decades shaping how the hosta community sees and shares these beloved plants.

Much of Andy's deep involvement in the hosta world traces back to the late, great Dr. Bob Olson — AHS legend, former President, go-getter of the highest order, and the man for whom hostas and AHS awards have been named. Dr. Olson had a gift for cheerfully recruiting people into remarkable things. Andy calls it being Bobbed. The hosta world is better for every person Bob ever Bobbed.

In this episode we dig into the art and science of stellar horticulture photography — the rule of thirds, how to frame a winning shot, what separates a good garden photo from an award winning photo, and why light matters as much as the plant itself. Whether you're shooting on a phone or a professional camera, Andy's insights are practical and genuinely game-changing for anyone who wants to document their shade garden beautifully.

Topics covered:

• Stellar horticulture photography tips for gardeners at every level
• The rule of thirds and award winning photo composition
• Framing, light, and technique for hosta and shade garden photography
• Andy Marlow's path from his first hosta in 1979 to AHS President
• Photo editing at The Hosta Journal
• The legacy of Dr. Bob Olson — AHS legend and the original source of being Bobbed
• The American Hosta Society — history, evolution, and what's ahead

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

This week on Hosta la Vista, we sit down with Chuck Doughty — owner of Cochato Nursery in Massachusetts and newly elected President of the American Hosta Society. Chuck is a 35-year veteran of the hosta world, a hybridizer, collector, grower, and one of the most passionate voices in the hosta community today. This conversation covers everything from how a single plant — Francis Williams — launched a lifelong obsession, to what it really takes to build a respected shade garden nursery from scratch on a small plot of land behind an 1820 farmhouse.

Chuck shares the full Cochato story: how the nursery began as a native plant operation, evolved into one of New England's most beloved hosta destinations, and why their display gardens — planted with companion plants, dwarf conifers, sedges, and shade perennials — are the heart of everything they do.

On the growing side, Chuck gets specific. He walks us through his exact hosta fertilizing routine — starting with 10-10-10 in early spring before growth begins, followed by Plant Tone once the soil warms up, and fish emulsion or Super Thrive for plants that need extra nursing. He explains why so many hostas underperform in home gardens (hint: people never feed them), and tackles the tricky problem of root competition from maple trees — and which plants like Pennsylvania sedge, Solomon's seal, and Christmas fern can fill those difficult dry spots where hostas struggle.

Chuck also shares what he looks for when selecting new cultivars for the nursery: thick, corrugated leaves that hold up against rabbit damage, bold blues, and bright colors built for durability. He makes a strong case for hostas in containers — including ones he's kept thriving for 12 years without changing the soil — and shares his dead-simple overwintering method: just lay them on their side.

As the new AHS President, Chuck talks candidly about his goals for the hosta community — getting hostas planted in public spaces and municipal parks, growing AHS membership, reaching younger gardeners through social media, and why supporting local independent nurseries matters more than ever in a world of big box store hosta selections that often disappoint.

We also play Finish the Rhyme (Chuck nails both — Frog in My Throat and Elegant Fog), and he reveals in This or That that he'd rather explain why a hosta isn't patented yet than deal with irrigation paperwork any day.

Chuck closes with something simple and true: hostas are the common denominator, but it's really about the people.

Whether you grow hostas in a shade garden, collect rare cultivars, or are just starting to discover what these incredible shade perennials can do, this episode is full of practical hosta growing advice, nursery wisdom, and community heart.

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Let's set the scene. Two women from North Alabama. One Mitsubishi Outlander. Nine days. Over 2,500 miles. And at some point along the way, a very serious conversation about whether clothes were really necessary for the rest of the trip or if that suitcase space could be better used for hostas.

Spoiler: the hostas won.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Julie Lewter and Susan Ragsdale of the Hosta Society of North Alabama to relive their legendary 2024 Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit — a road trip so thoroughly documented on Facebook that their followers watched in real time as a perfectly normal SUV slowly transformed into a mobile jungle. By the time they crossed back into Alabama, there was considerably more green and considerably less legroom than when they left.

Julie and Susan hit ten states — Alabama, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee — stopping at some of the most celebrated hosta gardens and nurseries in the country. They came. They saw. They absolutely did not practice restraint.

Their stops included:

• Hostas on the Bluff — Fairview Heights, Illinois, perched on the bluffs overlooking the St. Louis skyline
• In The Country Garden & Gifts — Independence, Iowa
• K&K Gardens — Hawkeye, Iowa
• Hosta-Store-Hollandale, MN
• Rock Landscaping and Garden-Baldwin, WI
• RayArt Shady Oaks Garden-Menomonie, WI
• Uniquely Hostas-Elroy, WI
• Land of the Giants-Milton, WI
• Audrey Temner's Garden-Appleton, WI
• Al's Autobody and Arboretum-Walworth, WI
• Hornbaker Gardens — Princeton, Illinois
• David Bowe-Ohio
• And more stops that may or may not have contributed to the clothing situation

You can relive the whole adventure yourself — Julie and Susan chronicled every glorious mile on Facebook under The Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit, and the photos and videos are all still there waiting for you. Fair warning: you will immediately start planning your own trip.

And the best news? The Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit 2.0 is coming in 2026. These two are not done. Not even a little bit.

Whether you're a seasoned hosta collector with your own road trip bucket list, a shade garden enthusiast who lives vicariously through other people's plant hauls, or someone who has simply never considered abandoning their wardrobe in a motel room for the greater good of their hosta collection — this episode is for you.

Topics covered:

• The Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit — 9 days, 2,500+ miles, 10 states
• Must-visit hosta nurseries and gardens across the Midwest
• What happens when two hosta lovers are completely unsupervised with an SUV and a credit card
• How to plan a multi-state hosta garden road trip
• The Hosta Society of North Alabama and what local hosta societies are all about
• The Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit 2.0 — what's coming in 2026
• Why your car will never look the same after a hosta road trip

Got questions, a road trip story, or just want to commiserate about suitcase space? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

If you've ever watched a hosta seedling push through soil for the first time, wondered what that strange spot on your hosta leaf means, or stood nervously beside a show table hoping your entry would impress a judge — David Teager has something to say to you.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with one of the most genuinely multifaceted contributors in the hosta world — AHS Judge Emeritus, YouTube educator, Facebook community admin, web designer, seed grower, and all around hosta revolutionary.

David's YouTube channel at @davidteager is one of the best resources anywhere for gardeners wanting to grow hostas from seed. Practical, clear, and built from real experience — if hosta seed starting is on your radar, start there.

He also serves as admin for both the Hosta ID and Hosta Diseases and Pests groups on Facebook — two of the most valuable resources in the online hosta community for identifying unknown cultivars and diagnosing plant problems. David brings that same dedication to the Delaware Valley Hosta Society, where he is an active member and the web designer behind their online presence.

As AHS Judge Emeritus, David has spent years evaluating the finest hostas in the country and in this conversation he shares practical insights, cautionary tales, and the generous encouragement that has made him one of the most beloved figures in the hosta world.

Topics covered:

• How to grow hostas from seed — tips from YouTube channel @davidteager
• Hosta seed starting for beginners and experienced growers
• Identifying hosta diseases and pests via the Facebook community
• Hosta ID — how to identify unknown cultivars
• What AHS show judges look for at a hosta show table
• The AHS Judge Emeritus designation
• The Delaware Valley Hosta Society — community, membership, and web presence

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

If Hornbaker Gardens isn't already on your must-visit list, it's about to be. This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Dave Hornbaker, second-generation co-owner of one of Illinois' most beloved destination nurseries — a place that grew from a dream on a patch of prairie into a full-scale garden center, event venue, and hosta lover's paradise.

Dave walks us through the whole story — from the early days of digging in the dirt alongside his family to building a nursery with a reputation for sweeping hosta collections, thoughtfully curated companion plants, and landscapes that stop you in your tracks. Hornbaker Gardens isn't just a place to buy plants. It's a place that makes you feel something.

We dig into their philosophy of gardening as an art form, what keeps the Hornbaker family grounded in their mission to inspire, and why gardeners from across the Midwest keep making the trip to Princeton, Illinois year after year.

Whether you're a seasoned hosta collector, a plant parent dreaming of your next road trip, or just discovering the world of shade gardening — this conversation will leave you refreshed, inspired, and itching to get your hands back in the dirt.

Topics covered:

• The origin story of Hornbaker Gardens — from prairie to plant destination
• Building a second-generation family nursery in the heart of Illinois
• Hostas and companion plants that define the Hornbaker Gardens experience
• Gardening as an art form — the philosophy behind the landscapes
• What makes Hornbaker Gardens a Midwest road trip worth taking
• Running a garden center and event venue side by side
• Inspiration for shade gardeners at every level

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Most hosta enthusiasts dream of visiting a few great gardens. Danny Lawson of Wichita, Kansas visited every single AHS sanctioned hosta display garden in the United States and Canada. Every. Single. One. And we caught him just before he crossed the finish line.

Danny is the Editor of The Hosta Journal, President of the Wichita Hosta Society, and one of the most quietly respected voices in the American hosta community. He was also instrumental in bringing the AHS display hosta garden to Botanica — Wichita's beloved botanical garden — putting his hometown firmly on the national hosta map.

In this conversation we dig into his journey from curious collector to seasoned curator, what goes into producing one of the most respected plant publications in the hobby, his favorite cultivars, and the stories and friendships built across a lifetime of visiting the finest hosta gardens in North America.

We also play our signature Finish the Rhyme challenge and a This or That segment — because even the most serious hosta people know how to have fun.

Topics covered:

• Visiting every AHS sanctioned hosta display garden in the US and Canada
• The AHS hosta garden at Botanica in Wichita, Kansas
• Editing The Hosta Journal — behind the scenes of a world class plant publication
• The Wichita Hosta Society and shade gardening in the Great Plains
• Favorite hosta cultivars and what makes a standout shade garden
• Building community through the American Hosta Society display garden program

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Tucked away outside of Independence, Iowa, In The Country Garden & Gifts is the kind of place serious hosta collectors love — a family-run nursery with over 700+ hosta varieties, a carefully curated collection of rare and exclusive offerings, and a reputation that has been quietly growing into something the entire hosta world is paying attention to.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Josh Spece to dig into how he built one of the Midwest's most respected hosta destinations from the ground up, with his family by his side every step of the way. We talk about how he curates his standout collection, what goes into selecting exclusive varieties, and how he balances a thriving mail-order business with the in-person magic of his nursery events.

Whether you're a seasoned collector hunting your next grail plant, a new homeowner just falling in love with shade gardening, or someone who has been watching the hosta world evolve and wants to know who's shaping its future — this episode is essential listening.

Topics covered:

• How Josh Spece and his family built In The Country Garden & Gifts into a must-visit Iowa hosta destination
• Curating 700+ hosta varieties and the strategy behind exclusive offerings
• Running a family nursery with heart — balancing mail order and in-person events
• The stories behind Josh's favorite plants and what excites him about what's coming
• Why In The Country Garden & Gifts is a Midwest road trip worth planning
• What's next for Josh Spece and the future of hosta collecting and breeding

Don't sleep on this one. Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Introverted: But willing to talk hostas. That pretty much describes Joe Rand and Todd Fussy of Lazy Toad Farm in Clearwater, Minnesota, and honestly, it might describe you too if you're listening to this podcast.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with the dynamic duo behind one of Minnesota's most delightfully unexpected farms — a place where over 1,000 hosta varieties grow alongside handcrafted pickles, cut flower CSA subscriptions, honey, and a merch shop that fully understands the assignment. It's the kind of place that names a doormat after a hosta called Striptease and sells mugs celebrating varieties like Hanky Panky — because why wouldn't you.

Lazy Toad Farm is a thriving farm rooted in community, creativity, and an absolutely serious commitment to shade gardening done with personality. Joe and Todd have built something genuinely special in Clearwater — a farm that takes hostas seriously and everything else with a wink.

We dig into how they curate their hosta collection, run a cut flower CSA bouquet subscription, preserve produce into some truly legendary pickle flavors, and host Open Farm Days that draw gardeners from across the region. Whether you're a plant parent, a pickle enthusiast, a cut flower devotee, or just someone who appreciates a farm that gives the whole hobby a little more fun — this episode is your people.

Topics covered:

• The story behind Lazy Toad Farm and what makes it a Midwest must-visit
• Growing and curating 1,000+ hosta varieties in Minnesota
• Running a cut flower CSA and handcrafted pickle operation alongside a nursery
• Open Farm Days — what to expect and why you should go
• Shade gardening, community, and building something meaningful through plants
• Why Lazy Toad Farm might be the most entertaining follow on your social media feed

If you've ever felt personally called out by a tee shirt that says "Hostas Over Humans" — welcome home. Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Ever wondered how to manage irrigation in a shade garden, or what it looks like when someone turns a passion project into one of the most remarkable nurseries in the country? This episode has answers.

Mandy made the trip from the Midwest to Salem, Oregon to walk the four acres of display gardens at Sebright Gardens — and came back with stories worth sharing. We sit down with co-founder Kirk Hansen to talk about how he's built a living collection of over 1,000 hosta varieties alongside hardy ferns and epimediums, making Sebright one of the largest shade-garden nurseries west of the Mississippi.

Kirk started Sebright as a private passion project in 2003. Today it's a destination for shade gardeners, plant parents, and hosta collectors from across the country — and yes, they do ship beyond Oregon's borders.

In this conversation we get into the real nuts and bolts of managing a large shade garden: irrigation strategies, the challenges of growing under established trees, how to curate companion plants that complement hostas, and what the visitor experience is actually like when you walk those mossy paths yourself.

Whether you're designing a shady corner of your backyard, dreaming of a Pacific Northwest road trip, or just fell down the hosta rabbit hole recently — this one's for you.

Topics covered:

• Irrigation strategies for large shade gardens
• Growing hostas and shade plants under trees
• How Sebright Gardens grew from a backyard project to a destination nursery
• Curating 1,000+ hosta varieties alongside ferns and epimediums
• What to expect when visiting Sebright Gardens in Oregon's Willamette Valley
• Shipping plants across state lines — what's possible and how it works
• Shade garden design inspiration from the Pacific Northwest

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Meet Christina Brinkmann — the passionate hosta hybridizerfrom Gütersloh, Germany, who has been quietly revolutionizing the hosta world since 2013. With over 2,900 hosta varieties growing in her garden alongside thousands of seedlings, Christina is one of Europe's most exciting and innovative breeders, and in this episode, she brings her warmth, knowledge, and infectious love of the plant straight to your earbuds.

Christina is known for two distinct lines. Her Chris'Hostas showcase her love of striking red and purple petioles, streaked foliage, and long-leafed varieties — including standouts like Chris' China Star, Chris' Tropical Sundown, Chris' Red Lightning, Chris' Darkest Purple, and Chris' Admin, a touching tribute to the friends who help manage her Facebook group. Her German Hostas carry a very special distinction: they are all tetraploids — plants with four sets ofchromosomes instead of the usual two — giving them thicker, more rubbery leaves, more intense colors, and greater resistance to both frost and sun. German Yellow Dragon, a Proud Dragon seedling, was the first of her tets tohit the market, and her German line has only grown from there. Fransen Hostas, one of Europe's premier hosta nurseries, proudly carries her work, as well as Josh from In the Country Garden and Gifts as well as Uniquely Hostas.

In this conversation, Christina opens up about what drew herto tetraploid breeding, why she loves red petioles and streaked hostas, how she selects which seedlings are worthy of a name, and what it's like to introduce European-bred cultivars to collectors around the world. She is as delightful asher plants — and trust us, that's saying something.

Enjoyed this episode? Be sure to follow, subscribe, orleave us a review on your favorite podcast platform — it means the world to us and helps more hosta lovers find the show!

Find us and join the conversation on Facebook and Instagramat @Hosta La Vista Podcast.

Have a question, a story, or a hosta you want to talk about?We'd love to hear from you at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com.

Tune in next week for another episode celebrating the plant that brings us all together — the beloved FriendshipPlant!

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Green Hill Hostas

Green Hill Hostas has been introducing exceptional new hosta cultivars to collectors and the nursery trade for over 40years. If you're looking for rare, carefully selected, and quality-grown plants, Bob is your guy. Visit them at HostaHosta.com.

Hornbaker Gardens

A true destination garden center, arboretum, and botanicalgarden nestled in the Illinois countryside near Princeton. With over 400 hosta varieties, a legendary Hosta Ravine, and stunning display gardens, Hornbaker Gardens is a must-visit pilgrimage for any serious shade gardener. Visit themat HornbakerGardens.com.

In The Country Garden & Gifts

Located in Independence, Iowa, In The Country specializes inhostas and succulents with a deep love for the collector and the curious alike. They carry an exceptional and carefully curated selection — including Christina Brinkmann's own cultivars! Explore their catalog at InTheCountryGardenAndGifts.com.

Only hosta people would find this perfectly normal. Pull into a working auto body shop on a back road in Walworth, Wisconsin — the smell of primer in the air, cars in the bays — and then walk around back to discover one of the most breathtaking hosta arboretums in the Midwest. That's exactly what awaits at Al's Auto Body & Arboretum (hostafest.net), where owner and self-described "owner, operator, weeder, waterer, planter, potter, and slug-slayer" Al Ritchey has spent over three decades quietly building a five-acre hosta paradise beneath a canopy of oak, hickory, and walnut trees.

This might be our quirkiest episode yet — and that is really saying something for a hosta podcast. But here's the thing: this is exactly what hosta people do. They carve out a niche in the most unlikely of places, and before you know it, 500+ varieties are growing behind the shop and Master Gardeners are busing in from across the region.

Al is a natural conversationalist with a great story — a lifelong car guy who started planting hostas in 1991 just to landscape around his shop, and never stopped. Today, he calls the arboretum his therapy: "If I get frustrated in the shop, I take it out on the weeds."

His first introduction, Compadre, mutated from the Emerald Tiara family over 20 years ago after contact with a pre-emergent herbicide. Al watched it carefully for years to make sure it held true, and named it Compadre — a "friendship plant" — before finally releasing it for sale. He waited nearly 20 years to introduce it, which tells you everything you need to know about this man's patience and his standards.

But the showstopper? Burlesque — a sport of the beloved Strip Tease hosta, and Al's most spectacular introduction yet. Worth serious money in the hosta world, Burlesque cannot be tissue cultured, which means the only people who own it got it directly from Al himself. This is a collector's plant, full stop.

If you're anywhere near the Lake Geneva area this spring, mark your calendar: Hosta Fest 2025 — celebrating 25 years — runs May 24–25 from 9am–5pm, May 26 (Memorial Day) from 9am–2pm, and May 31 & June 1 from 9am–5pm. Admission and parking are free, and there are over 450 hosta varieties on display with at least 175 for sale, including large specimen plants. No one leaves empty-handed.

📍 Al's Auto Body & Arboretum | W6866 N Walworth Rd, Walworth, WI | hostafest.net | (262) 275-2800

Welcome to a special midweek episode of Hosta La Vista for hosta lovers, shade gardeners, perennial enthusiasts, plant parents, cut flower fans, and anyone who finds joy in beautiful gardens.

The countdown is on for the upcoming American Hosta Society Ohio Convention happening June 11–13 in Dublin, Ohio, and we’re joined by longtime hosta enthusiast, hybridizer, and organizing committee member Doug Beilstein to share an insider preview of one of the gardening world’s most anticipated summer weekends.

Still on the fence about attending? This episode might convince you to go.

Doug gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming, including 14 spectacular tour gardens filled with inspiration for hosta lovers, shade gardeners, perennial collectors, landscape enthusiasts, and anyone who loves seeing how passionate gardeners design their spaces. If you enjoy garden tours, open gardens, botanical travel, or finding new ideas for your own yard, these gardens alone are worth the trip.

We also talk about one of the weekend’s biggest highlights: the Thursday night BBQ at the home of Jeanne and Dick Barbee—a gathering full of plants, stories, friendship, and the kind of garden magic that happens when passionate plant people get together.

But this episode goes far beyond the convention.

Doug shares stories from his fascinating journey in horticulture, including starting a blueberry farm with his brother, meeting icons, and becoming one of the hobby’s respected hybridizers. We talk about some of his many hosta introductions over the years, including favorites like World Cup, Cup of Grace, Leapin’ Lizard, and Road Rage, along with the stories and inspiration behind them.

Gardeners, perennial lovers, and plant geeks alike will enjoy Doug’s insights into plant breeding, hybridizing, and what it takes to create memorable plants that stand the test of time in real gardens.

Doug also reflects on his memories of legendary hosta figures, including Mary Chastain of Lakeside Hostas, Van Wade and shares stories about the friendships and experiences that shaped his gardening life.

Whether you grow hostas, perennials, cut flowers, cottage garden favorites, or simply love listening to gardening podcasts while working in the yard, this episode is packed with garden stories, plant inspiration, and plenty of laughs.

In this episode:
• A preview of the 2026 Ohio Hosta Convention in Dublin, Ohio
• Details on 14 inspiring tour gardens
• The Thursday BBQ at Jeanne & Dick Barbee’s home
• Stories behind famous hosta introductions like World Cup and Road Rage
• Conversations about hybridizing, perennial gardening, and shade plants
• Doug’s blueberry farm beginnings, naming hostas
• Memories of hosta history and the people who shaped the hobby

Love hostas, shade gardening, perennial gardening, cut flower gardens, plant collecting, flower farming, horticulture, or garden travel? You’re in the right place.

Still thinking about attending? Registration is open now at hostaconvention.org.

Follow Hosta La Vista so you never miss an episode featuring hosta growers, hybridizers, garden personalities, and the joy of building a beautiful garden. Visit our website at hostalavista.org

If you've ever grown Guacamole, Curly Fries, or First Frost, you've already met Bob Solberg's work. In this Season 2 premiere of Hosta La Vista, we sit down with the legendary hybridizer behind Green Hill Hostas — a nursery that grew from a backyard passion project into one of the most respected names in hosta breeding worldwide.

Bob has introduced around 100 hosta cultivars to the market over his career, and he's still as excited about the future of hostas as ever. In this conversation he shares what the hybridizing process actually looks like, the story behind some of his most beloved varieties, his friendship with fellow hosta legend Loleta Powell, and what he thinks the next generation of growers needs to know.

Whether you're a seasoned collector, a new plant parent who just fell down the hosta rabbit hole or curious about starting your own breeding program — there's something here for you.

Topics covered:

• How Bob Solberg hybridizes hostas and what he looks for in a new cultivar
• The stories behind Guacamole, Curly Fries, and First Frost
• How Green Hill Hostas grew from backyard to global nursery
• Bob's friendship with Loleta Powell
• What's next for hosta breeding — and why the best may be yet to come
• Advice for new and younger growers getting into hostas

Follow or subscribe on Spotify, Youtube or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and share with a fellow plant lover to help us grow. Find us on Instagram and Facebook at hosta la vista podcast. Drop us a comment, say hello, and let us know what you'd like to hear next. Remember, you can always email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com.

Hosta Vista Podcast — Season 2 premieres MAY 9TH! Every Saturday all summer long, your favorite hosta and gardening podcast is back with new episodes featuring plant experts, nursery owners, landscape designers, and disease specialists.

If you're a plant parent who started with a monstera and is ready to take your passion from indoor to outdoor, this is your next obsession. Hostas are the ultimate shade garden plant — and we have the experts to prove it.

Season 2 guests include hosta expert Bob Solberg, Christina Brinkmann, Al Ritchey, and Dr. Warren Pollock — plus convention coverage, storytellers, and so much more. We can't wait for you to hear it all.

Whether you're a beginner gardener or a seasoned hosta collector, there's something here for every plant lover. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode — just hit the + (follow) button in the corner to get notified the moment new episodes drop.

Find Hosta Vista Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Threads. Questions? Email us at HostalaVistapodcast@gmail.com

Music by Tomasz Redman

We know January can feel like the longest month in the garden calendar — so consider this your little dose of green in the grey. Betsy and Mandy are back with a Season 2 preview episode of Hosta La Vista: The Friendship Plant Podcast, and we have a lot to look forward to together.

We're hard at work planning a season we think you're really going to love — new guests, new gardens, new stories, and the same love for hostas and friendship that brought us all together in the first place.

Season 2 kicks off May 9th with legendary hosta hybridizer Bob Solberg of Green Hill Hostas. Bob has introduced around 100 cultivars to the market including Guacamole, Curly Fries, and Cracker Crumbs — so if you've ever wondered who's responsible for naming hostas after your snack cabinet, we found him. He was doing food-named plants before it was cool.

If you're planning to attend the Midwest Regional Hosta Society Convention in Madison, Wisconsin this July, come find us — Betsy and Mandy will both be there and would love to meet you in person.

While you wait for May, catch up on all of Season 1 — every episode is available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so Season 2 finds you the moment it drops. Got questions or just want to say hello? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.

See you in May — we cannot wait.

Betsy and Mandy

Protect your hostas from frost with a cardboard box — that's just one of the practical gems Gail Russo shares in this Season 1 finale of Hosta La Vista. We're visiting Gail and David Russo of The Russo Garden in Cedarville, New Jersey, for a deep dive into their stunning multi-habitat landscape featuring hostas, daylilies, sunny and shady beds, ponds, and water features.

Learn how the Russos grow and sell hosta seeds through Facebook's Seed Growers group, overwinter seedlings, and collaborate with a nursery to bring new varieties to market. Whether you're curious about hosta seed growing for beginners, fall garden prep, or how to design a diverse shade garden, this episode is packed with actionable advice.

Gail also contributes articles to the AHS e-Newsletter — a free quarterly publication from the American Hosta Society available to members and non-members alike. She's actively looking for gardeners to feature, so reach out if you'd like to share your story. Read her July issue here: https://americanhostasociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/July2025.pdf

Topics covered:

• How to protect hostas from frost using cardboard boxes
• Growing and selling hosta seeds
• Overwintering hosta seedlings
• Designing a multi-habitat garden with shade and sun
• Seasonal hosta care tips for fall
• Contributing to the AHS e-Newsletter

Subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you don't miss Season 2. Join the conversation on Facebook and Instagram, or email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com.

Every community has its founders. Its visionaries. Its quietly devoted souls who showed up, dug in, and gave everything to something they loved. But someone has to remember them — and someone has to tell their story.

In this rare and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Dr. Warren I. Pollock — scholar, writer, and one of the most beloved figures in the American Hosta Society — for a conversation that is as much about people as it is about plants. Warren reflects on a lifetime of friendship with the icons who built the hosta world: Alex Summers, John and Gertrude Wister, Eunice Fisher, Gunther Stark, Russ O'Hara, David Teager, Don Rawson, Gail Hartley Alley, and the legendary Ben Zonneveld of the Netherlands — among many others whose passion and dedication shaped a community that endures to this day.

He also pays heartfelt tribute to the late Marilyn Romenesko — devoted horticulturist, past President of the Delaware Valley Hosta Society, and a force of warmth and excellence in the hosta world — whom Warren remembers with tremendous fondness and respect.

These are the people who were in the room where it happened — and Warren was right there with them.

This isn't a technical episode. It's a tribute. It's a memory. It's one of the most moving conversations we've ever had the privilege of recording, and we think you'll feel that from the very first minute.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The early days of the American Hosta Society and the remarkable people behind it
• Warren's personal friendships with the pioneers who made it all happen
• Stories, memories, and tributes to the legends of the hosta world
• A special remembrance of Marilyn Romenesko and her legacy in the Delaware Valley Hosta Society
• The international reach of the hosta community, including friendships across the globe
• Gail Hartley Alley's vital role in hosta registration and record-keeping
• How passion, friendship, and community built one of horticulture's most devoted societies

If you love hostas, you love the people who loved them first. Don't miss this one.

Perfect for: American Hosta Society members, hosta collectors, Delaware Valley Hosta Society members, shade gardeners, perennial plant enthusiasts, garden history lovers, garden podcast fans

Audio credit: Music by Tomasz Redman and gnate-saint.

Worried your hosta might be sick? Wondering if those strange streaks, spots, or browning leaves are Hosta Virus X (HVX), tobacco rattle virus, nematodes, or something else? This episode is for every hosta gardener.

This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy are joined by Brett Arenz, Director of the Plant Disease Clinic at the University of Minnesota, to talk all things hosta disease, hosta viruses, and plant diagnostics.

We cover:

Hosta Virus X (HVX) symptoms, diagnosis, and how to recognize suspicious patterns in hosta leaves
How to test for HVX and when you should test a plant

Tobacco Rattle Virus (TRV) and how it differs from HVX

Foliar nematodes in hostas — what damage looks like and how to spot the signs
Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) and other diseases affecting hostas
Common issues that can look like hosta disease including environmental stress, frost damage, herbicide injury, and nutrient problems
How to send hosta samples for plant disease testing
Why gardeners should contact their local Extension office or land-grant university for in-state plant diagnostic testing

Brett shares practical, science-based advice for diagnosing sick hostas, understanding plant pathogens, and protecting your shade garden from disease.

Want to test your hostas at home? Order Agdia plant testing kits here:
Agdia Testing Kits

Follow Hosta La Vista on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode about hostas, shade gardening, and the people who love them.

What exactly is a “Super El Niño,” and should gardeners across the United States be paying attention?

In this episode of Hosta la Vista, sisters Mandy and Betsy sit down with Pam Knox, agricultural climatologist and Director of the Weather Network at the University of Georgia, to unpack the headlines surrounding the possible 2026–2027 Super El Niño and what it could mean for gardening across the U.S. this fall, winter, and into next spring.

Will your region experience unusual warmth, heavier rainfall, drought, snow, flooding, or an early spring? Could shifting weather patterns affect planting timing, moisture levels, frost dates, or overall garden success?

Pam helps us separate hype from reality as we explore how El Niño weather patterns affect the United States, why meteorologists are watching this developing climate event closely, and what gardeners should (and shouldn’t) be paying attention to heading into the 2026–2027 gardening season. From temperature and precipitation trends to regional growing conditions, this conversation offers practical insight for gardeners who want to better understand the long-range weather outlook.

If you’ve been hearing news stories about the Super El Niño, wondering how El Niño affects gardening, or trying to figure out what the 2026–2027 weather forecast for gardeners could look like in your part of the country, this episode is for you.

Topics include:2
What a Super El Niño actually is
How El Niño affects weather across the U.S.

Possible gardening impacts for fall, winter, and spring
Regional weather patterns gardeners should watch
Temperature shifts, precipitation trends, frost timing, and planting windows

In Part 1 of this special podcast episode, we visit Hosta hybridizer Doug Ruff at his home for an exclusive, nearly two-hour tour of his private breeding program. Best known as the creator of the wildly popular and hard-to-find Bloodline Hosta, Doug gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at the plants, techniques, and growing setup that have made his work so respected among hosta collectors.

But red is only the beginning. Doug has mastered the art of anthocyanins—the pigments responsible for the blushing color in hosta leaves—and he shares his passion for pushing hosta color further than ever before. From long-lasting red tones to exciting work in purples, oranges, and beyond, this episode reveals the artistry, experimentation, and relentless pursuit of perfection behind Doug’s hybrids.

Doug is an intensely private person, making this a rare and remarkable look inside his hosta program. If you love hostas, rare plants, plant breeding, or innovative garden hybrids, you won’t want to miss this one. This is Part 1 of 2—be sure to tune in next Saturday for Part 2.

Visit his website at hostaoriginals.com to learn more.

Tune in to Hosta La Vista wherever you listen to podcasts. Not sure where to start? Visit us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

Have a burning question or a comment? write to us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com

For listeners interested in buying Doug Ruff's plants, visit inthecountrygardenandgifts.com and enter code PODCAST at checkout for free shipping on orders over $100. Good through August 31, 2026.