When we first moved into our old farmhouse many years ago, a tangle of daylilies and scraggly bushes and box elder trees surrounded the foundation. Visions of rhododendrons, snowball bushes, and flowers of every variety danced in my head.
Through much trial and error and many dead plants later, I made peace with my sun-challenged lawn thanks to the dozens of oak trees growing in the yard. What did seem to thrive were the plain Jane green hostas snuggled beneath the day lilies on the east side of the house.
While perusing through the rummage sale ads in the Action Advertiser (our local shopper that sadly no longer exists), I came across a tiny classified ad for Pondside Gardens near Kiel, Wisconsin that sold hundreds of varieties of hostas.
As we neared our destination, I saw a small sign that simply read ‘hostas’. We turned onto Louis Corners Road and found a magical place filled with hostas of every shape, size and color. Prior to that awakening, I had thought variegated hostas were something special.
Over the years, hosta breeders created plants with unique palettes of colors and designs, interesting textures on the leaves that cupped into a bowl-like shape or were fluted around the edges like a pie crust. These living works of art would transform my flowerbeds for the next 15 years.
With advice from owners Dennis and Diane Lenz, we chose three Royal Standard hostas that shot up fragrant blooms in late summer. Those giant hostas were the foundation that would inspire many more flowerbeds filled with more and more hostas.
Each summer I’d make the 30-mile trip to wander through the Lenz’s display gardens, taking notes of which hosta caught my eye. If I couldn’t find a potted plant in the sale area, Dennis would grab his trusty shovel and head out to one of the many rows of smaller plants growing in beds along the ravine and pot one for me.
Soon my little wagon would be full and I’d head up to the garage where Diane would total up my order and provide handy tips and good conversation. I still remember the delight on my mom’s face as she walked through Pondside Gardens for the first time.
While I lovingly blame Dennis and Diane for feeding my addiction to hostas, those beautiful plants have brought me so much joy and beauty over the years. At last count, I have over 250 hostas, including a small grouping in honor of my grandchildren. When each was born, I traveled to Pondside Gardens and picked one out for the new family member. Our grandson, Caleb’s hosta, Blue Angel, measures six feet across.
When choosing a hosta, most people go for the visual aspect of the plant. Lately I’ve been searching for hostas that produce fragrant blooms. After most blooms in the garden have faded by mid-August, some of my hostas are sending up lavender and white blooms that rival the most fragrant Stargazer lily.
Just days after Diane Lenz announced on Facebook the closing of Pondside Gardens due to Dennis’ health, hundreds shared the post and left comments including this one from Karin Connors Wille.
“You have brought joy and beautification to literally thousands (possibly tens of thousands) of backyards and gardens. Thank you for that gift.”
I’ve made two trips to my favorite hosta haunt and expect to make one last trip before the end of the summer to visit with Dennis and Diane once more and perhaps find a lonely hosta looking for a new home.
Things I learned about hostas
Colleen Kottke is a hosta junkie and editor of the Wisconsin State Farmer and can be reached at ckottke@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Wisconsin State Farmer: A one-inch ad for Pondside Gardens near Kiel triggered my lifelong addiction to hostas
Reporting by Colleen Kottke, Wisconsin State Farmer / Wisconsin State Farmer
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