a color story: hosta fever

I divided 100 Hostas all across the garden beds -most of them along the  emergency road. This "initiative" rooted from a far fetch conversation I had with a neighbor. I told her that I would plant Hostas across the emergency road once the wild flower seeds bloomed.

Although I was a season late, I committed to the ambitious goal. 

Last year, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the wildflowers jump out along the boring road. Colors of red, orange, pink, blue, purple filled the clay-heavy soils; those wildflowers sure changed the ambiance in that area. But, I found myself in a cumbersome situation - the wildflowers consisted of annuals which meant a one time appearance. In terms of maintenance, it wasn't ideal. This gardening dilemma changed my views on perennials; I could rely on them year by year. In terms of "return on aesthetic investment", I received dividends for future gardening sessions.

So, I shoveled and flipped the wildflower debris on the dry soil. This mindless task accentuated my point on annuals - they acted as an accent and not a foundational piece of the garden. Every two feet I dug a hole, poured lake water, add fertilizer, divided Hosta roots with the "eye" ( unopened foliage leaves which appeared as a monster-like eye), then added grass-clipping composted soil. I repeated this task 55 times without using the tractor and used a rusty bucket to carry up the hill. The "inefficient" way of completing this task was my alternative to a workout - let me tell you the farmer's walk up a hill with buckets of water was no joke. My legs still "thanked" me for the tough love. 

Two weeks later, the Hosta's green foliage "bloomed" (or opened); I was transfixed. 

Sweat equity placed a large factor on my Hosta impressions. I saw the cocoon opened as a butterfly. In the Hosta's dormant stage, the plants looked similar. But, I discovered the different Hosta varieties when the leaves opened - white feathers, yellow feathers, and the upcoming purple feathers. Do Hosta's even need annuals to compliment them? Slivers of color accentuated their foliage already. 

Could one create an ideal garden with just Hostas?

Like how rocks were used an a canvas in Japanese Zen style gardening, I felt the same way with Hosta leaves - it blended with the color of a lawn but held the sensual emptiness of a rock garden. 

How can a plant so hardy bring so much ornamental value in the simplicity of their green foliage? 

Hosta gang. Hosta gang. Hosta gang...

Where's my local Hosta organization? I recalled visiting a Hosta organization's website. I understood their affinity for the plant. 

I repeated my routine walk to the mail box. Some of the neighborhood's Hosta game were strong-they stood in a military fashion at the same height in a brigade. In comparison, I felt like my Hostas were in survival mode.

It wasn't untrue-back to the canvas.