Seven New Acquisitions

Top row, left to right: Cherry Tomato, Giantland Sunny Mouse Ears, Ruffled Mouse Ears, Pure Heart;
bottom row: Pixie Imp, Tears of Joy, Jennifer Bailey.

For its meeting this month, Hostas of Kentuckiana ventured over to its members Chris and Tom Miller's Bluegrass Hosta Farm near Georgetown, Kentucky. I had a much shorter drive and returned home with some new additions to my collection of hosts:

1. H. 'Cherry Tomato', AHS class V-6a, miniature
2. H. 'Giantland Sunny Mouse Ears', AHS class IV-3, small
3. H. 'Jennifer Bailey', AHS class V-4b, miniature
4. H. 'Pixie Vamp', AHS class V-4b, miniature
5. H. 'Pure Heart', AHS class V-3, miniature
6. H. 'Ruffled Mouse Ears', AHS class IV-2, small
7. H. 'Tears of Joy', AHS class V-1, miniature

Note: Although the 2013 AHS Classification List shows 'Giantland Sunny Mouse Ears' as a small hosta, the list gives the leaf dimensions of this hosta as 1.75 by 1.75 inches, which makes its leaf area 3.06 square inches, that of a miniature hosta. 

AHS Provisional Hosta Show Judge, effective 6-13-2013

Here is an extract from an e-mail from Kathie Sisson, Interim Judges Training Chair, The American Hosta Society, dated Thursday, 13 June 2013:

"Thank you for your application to become a Provisional Judge for the American Hosta Society. Your application has been approved. Congratulations!"

To become a provisional judge, a candidate must: (1) be a member of The American Hosta Society in good standing for at least two consecutive calendar years and maintain active membership; (2) possess the current edition of The AHS Handbook; (3) be willing to serve on judging panels in accredited shows; (4) exhibit in two shows and work in clerking or placement in two shows during the past four years; (5) complete Judging Clinic I; and (6) submit evidence of completion of the above requirements to the AHS Judges Training Chair or Vice President--Judging and Exhibitions. AHS Handbook, III-B-1.

Kentucky now has three AHS-accredited hosta show judges. I am very pleased to be joining Senior Judge Jean Ohlmann of Louisville and Master Judge Tom Miller of Georgetown. We could use more! The accreditation process is not onerous and gives AHS members an opportunity to learn more about their favorite plant and assist The American Hosta Society in its work of promoting a greater understanding and appreciation of hostas, the Friendship Plant.

Indianapolis Hosta Society's Hosta Show, June 8, 2013

Over the weekend, I drove to Indianapolis, Indiana, to exhibit hosta leaves at the Indianapolis Hosta Society's hosta show on Saturday, June 8, at the Holliday Park Nature Center. I had planned on showing at our own Hostas of Kentuckiana's hosta show on Saturday, May 25, but an acute upper respiratory tract infection prevented me from participating in Louisville.

I took leaves from six of my hosta plants to the Indianapolis show and was fortunate to receive ribbons for all six plants exhibited. Here is a list of the plants shown and the ribbons awarded:

• H. 'Cameo' -- first place
• H. 'Curley Fries' -- first place
• H. 'Stiletto' -- first place
• H. 'Blue Ice' -- second place
• H. 'Green Mouse Ears' -- second place
• H. 'Pineapple Upsidedown Cake' -- second place

The show was well attended, and there was a large plant sale with several vendors. I enjoyed my weekend in the Hoosier State.

Exhibiting at the Indiana show completed all the requirements for my applying for certification as an American Hosta Society provisional hosta show judge.