SHADES OF GREEN
The Newsletter for the Upstate New York Hosta Society (UNYHS)
Prepared by Dave Jennings,
Communications Chair and
Newsletter Editor
Your Officers & Committee Chairs:
President: Kathryn Mohr
518-952-4995 [email protected]
Vice President: Debb Guard
518-783-6845 [email protected]
Secretary: Cindy Jennings
518-541-3598 [email protected]
Treasurer: Ernie Jeffery
201-664-5720
[email protected]
Plant Acquisition:: Dawn Haas
518-374-8247 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor and Communications:
Dave Jennings
518-541-3598 [email protected]
Hospitality:: Mabel Siler
518-399-4071 [email protected]
Membership: Jim Wimet
518-584-2341 [email protected]
Door Prizes/Raffles: Bobbie Crain
518-346-0639 [email protected]
Facebook/Publicity: Cathy Fruhauf
518-858-3718 [email protected]
Website: Bill Ryan & Jon Sternfeld
518-374-2206 Use Contact Page on Website
Plant Sitter: Bobbie Crain
518-346-0639 [email protected]
Faddegon's Plant Sale: (Open at this time)
Send an e-mail to [email protected] to volunteer
Hosta Cut Leaf Show: (Open at this time)
Send an e-mail to [email protected] to volunteer
By-Laws Revision: (Open at this time)
Send an e-mail to [email protected] to volunteer
Librarian: Debb Guard
518-783-6845 [email protected]
Contact Us
Website: http://unyhs.org
E-mail: [email protected]
December 2016
From your President: Kathryn Mohr
I hope everyone is planning to attend our Holiday Party to be held next
Saturday, December 10th. Details are elsewhere in this newsletter. Special
Thanks Cindy, for planning this event.
Our scholarship committee has been hard at work and will be making their
recommendation at our Holiday party. Thank you to Jon Sternfeld as Chair
as well as Cindy and Dave Jennings for investigating this possibility for us.
I spoke to our treasurer, Ernie Jeffery last week. He’s purchased gift
certificates at several garden centers and nurseries for our Holiday party as
well as the doldrums meeting. Thank you!
Mabel Siler is retiring from her job as our regular Hospitality Chair after
our Holiday Party this month. She’s done a wonderful job for us and we all
appreciate her effort. I am still looking for someone to take this over as of
the first of the year. Mabel’s shoes will be tough to fill but we really need
someone to come forward and volunteer to try to do so.
I wish you all a safe and satisfying holiday season. Kathryn
Please Join us for our Holiday Celebration
Plan to attend to share a little Holiday Cheer
To be held next Saturday, December 10th in the
fellowship hall at:
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scotia, NY
(103 South Reynolds Street) beginning at 12:00 Noon.
The Theme again this year is "Helping Hands for the
Holidays" Cindy has graciously agreed to Chair the Party
again this year! We will be holding another Photo Contest
this year so see the details later in this newsletter.
Warm Socks: Cindy requested that members bring
donations of warm socks that will be given to the local
city mission to help children and adults keep their feet
warm this winter. If you would like to donate some socks
and can't attend the party…please contact Cindy to make
arrangements for pick-up.
PLEASE
MARK
YOUR
CALENDAR
NOW AND
SAVE
THESE
DATES
Look for
more details
in each future
newsletter
Gift Exchange: Members who would like to be involved
in a Holiday Gift Exchange should wrap a gift with an
average price of $15.00 value and bring it to the party.
Please do not place any nametags on your gift. Only those
who bring a gift to exchange are eligible to participate.
We will use the same exchange rules as last year with
each gift only being permitted to be swapped once!
Dish to share: As is our tradition, each member is asked
to bring their own place setting and a favorite holiday dish
to pass. A stove is available if food must be held at a
warm temperature.
If you have questions on the Holiday Party, please send an
e-mail to Cindy at: [email protected] or feel free to call
her at (518) 541-3598
Winter Doldrums Meeting/Party - February 19th
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County Office in Voorheesville
Lunch at 12:00PM, Speaker at 1:00PM
Our Chairperson this year will be Stephanie Kronau
Our Total budget for the doldrums party will remain at $500.00
Guest speaker that has been lined up is Kathy Purdy- She has offered several topics to
us but as of this moment her topic has not been finalized at this time. Look for details
in our next email update. She has requested an honorarium fee of $300 plus mileage
(at the current state reimbursable amount). If the weather is predicted to be bad,
Kathryn stated she could have her stay overnight with her the night before just in case!
Everyone will be asked to bring their favorite dish to share and all Horticultural door
prize donations will be appreciated. UNYHS will be coordinating everything this year.
Shades of GREEN
From: Dave Jennings,
Communications
Chairman
I am always looking for contributors to our newsletter. Anyone wishing to write an article or
send pictures is encouraged to do so. Please keep in mind if you see an article somewhere that
you think our members will enjoy reading, then send it to me and I will ask the author if we
can publish it in our newsletter. I hope you enjoy the informative article on Growing Hostas
in Pots in this newsletter. Special thanks to the Delaware Valley Hosta Society for granting
me permission to reprint it here for your enjoyment!
Please send your Articles and Suggestions to: [email protected]
Committee Reports
Plant Acquisition Report
Here is the list so far of what we have ordered and paid for from Naylor Creek: Beach Boy,
Christmas Pageant, Dancing Queen, Earth Angel, Fire and Ice, Frosted Dimples, Fruit Punch,
Funny Mouse, Heat Wave, Imperial Palace, Key West, Luna Moth, Maya Infatuation,
Milkmaid, One Last Dance, Picasso, Raucous Ruffles, Regal Supreme and Spartacus
From Dawn Haas
Plant Acquistion
Chair
This is the list so far of what we have ordered and paid for from Green Mountain: Limetini,
Dragon Tails, Heart and Soul, Hugs Urajiro, Montana aureomarginata and Sum Ringer, these
All of the plants listed here are ordered and paid for so go to www.HostaLibrary.org this
Winter to start making your wish list of those you absolutely can’t live without! We also have
plants on hold from Viktoria and Green Hill so this is just a partial list! Look for more in our
next newsletter!
Website Report
"Have you visited the society's website, http://unyhs.org? Is there anything you
think could be improved? Is there any content you would like added?
From Bill Ryan and
Jon Sternfeld
Website Co-Chairs
Please email [email protected] and let us know!"
Membership Report (as of November 22, 2016)
We currently have 67 paid members. As you know, membership runs from January 1
thru December 31 each year. I will soon be sending reminders to only those
members that will owe dues for next year as in Calendar Year (CY)2017.
From Jim Wimet
Membership Chair
If you know of anyone that would like to join our UNYHS, please have them complete
a membership form found on our website.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Please Bring your Beautiful Photo's!
Since members had so much fun at our first two photo contests, we thought we would repeat it again at this
year's Holiday Gathering. So please sort through all those beautiful photos you took this summer and fall!
Photos must be 5" X 7" size with no frames or mats. We still feel that the cheapest place to obtain the
enlargements is at Wal-Mart, Target, Rite Aid or CVS but if you know of a better source…please let us know!
When you arrive at the meeting, each member who will be entering photos will select their own mat color and
mount their photos. A black or white mat will be supplied. Please place your name on the back side of each
photo. Each member may submit up to two (2) photos per category.
The categories for this photo contest are as follows:
#1 Best Plant Oddity #2 Best Water feature in a Garden Setting
#3 Best photo of one individual Hosta leaf
With permission, Dave Jennings would like to again scan your photo's so that they can be used in one of our
future newsletters. (A simple permission Form will be distributed at the meeting). He will return originals once
they are scanned for future use in our Shades of Green Newsletter.
So please consider entering those beautiful photos and of course ribbons will be once again awarded!
Please contact Cindy ([email protected]) if you have any questions.
While we are on the subject of Photos...the following are a few pics Betsy Thompson sent us from our Fall
Picnic at the Wimet’s. Thanks for sharing Betsy! If you didn’t attend, you missed a GREAT time…
Summary Report on Possible Dues Elimination prepared by James Wimet
The idea of Eliminating Dues for UNYHS membership has become a topic of interest. Over the last several
months, the UNYHS membership was asked to provide their comments; whether to keep dues or eliminate them.
Out of 66 members, only seven (7) members responded. Of those:
 5 members stated that dues should be retained
 1 member stated that they should be eliminated
 1 member stated that the Capital Hudson Iris Society does not charge dues
Commenters Reasons for Keeping Dues
 $10.00 a year is not much to pay. Benefits far outweigh the cost. Where can you go once a month for 8 to
12 months and enjoy a beverage and snacks; meet like-minded people; discuss gardening techniques;
listen to guest speakers; receive an electronic newsletter; get plants at reduced prices; occasionally, visit
member gardens; go to a picnic; or take a bus trip. All for less than $1.00 a month.
 Provide funds. With 66 members, UNYHS roughly collects $660 annually. Every organization incurs
expenses, e.g. printing, postage, guest speakers, hospitality, etc. Dues are one means of offsetting some of
those expenses.
 Provide a sense of ownership. When someone pays dues, it can result in the feeling that they “own” a
share of the organization. As such their interest is heightened to where they care: what the mission and
goals are; what direction the organization is taking and how the organization is perceived by others. Those
paying members are more likely to serve as officers and on committees and actively promote the growth
of the organization.
 Provide benefits only available to paid members. Each member (with dues kept current) has the ability to:
purchase select Hosta(s) at reduced prices; participate in bus trips at discounted prices, participate in
drawings for gift certificates at annual Holiday Party; and participate in door prize drawings at various
meetings.
Commenters Reasons for Eliminating Dues
 Paying $10.00 a year over several years can be costly, i.e. $200 over twenty years. However, I don’t recall
anyone ever complaining that $10.00 a year is too expensive.
 Reduces burden on Membership chair and Treasurer. They would no longer have to: remind members to
pay dues, collect dues and maintain records. To date, neither individual has complained that it is too much
work. In fact they both volunteered knowing the tasks involved.
Financial Impact of Eliminating Dues
 At 66 members, $660 less revenue collected. UNYHS would need to rely on its annual Faddegon’s Hosta
sale for enough revenue to offset costs.
 Refunding dues collected in advance. This amounts to $440 for those members paid in advance for CY
2017, 2018 and for 2019 and beyond.
Action Needed to be Taken at The December 10, 2016 meeting
 In order to eliminate dues a member must make a motion to amend the UNYHS Bylaws. Specifically,
Article III - Membership, Sections A and B.
 Another member must second the motion.
 The floor is then open for comments.
 After which members will be asked to vote.
 If a majority of members present vote yes to amend the bylaws to eliminate dues, the president would
have to designate someone to draft the necessary amendment(s). The membership would later have to
approve the new bylaw language for it to become effective.
Note: Absent a motion to amend the bylaws, the subject of eliminating dues would then be closed.
2019 HOSTA OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
It is time for members of the American Hosta Growers Association to narrow down the nominations for the
2019 Hosta of the Year (Affectionately known as HOTY). Members must vote for their 3 Favorites on the list
below of those nominated by December 15th and then there will be one more round of voting once the list is
narrowed down to just 3 Choices.
Which 3 would you vote for?
Here are the five criteria they must use to guide their nominations.
he hosta should grow well in all parts of the country.
-20.
ar for which it is selected.
The hosta should be widely available in the year for which it is selected. That can be a tough one since two of
the major wholesale suppliers went out of business recently.
If you aren’t familiar with any of these I suggest you go to www.hostalibrary.org to check them out!
American Hosta Growers Association
Vote
For 3
HOTY 2019
Nominations
Appletini
Autumn Frost
Battle Star
Blueberry Waffles
Cathedral Windows
Clear Fork River Valley
Count Your Blessings
Cranberry Wine
Dancing Queen
Deep Blue Sea
Designer Genes
Dream Weaver
El Nino
Empress Wu
Fat Cat
Final Summation
Gentle Giant
Guardian Angel
Hush Puppie
Irish Luck
Island Breeze
Key West
Lakeside Paisley Print
Millennium
Neptune
Niagara Falls
Rainbow’s End
Risky Business
Summer Breeze
Wheee!
Wishing Well
2019 Hosta of the Year
2016 Hosta
Finder
Average Price
$13.25
$16.15
$14.63
$22.07
$17.38
$16.46
$10.00
$20.20
$14.73
$15.11
$15.46
$14.12
$16.70
$16.84
$15.00
$18.42
$20.33
$15.66
$13.94
$16.96
$16.52
$16.27
$19.32
$15.83
$14.88
$13.68
$16.00
$15.05
$12.89
$17.00
$16.64
U.S. Patent
PP#23224
PP#17295
PP#14632
PP#20774
PPAF
PP#27151
PP#19674
PP#17251
PP#23565
Growing hostas in pots: minis to maxis
Reprinted by permission from the
DELAWARE VALLEY
HOSTA SOCIETY WEB SITE




Why not grow hostas in pots? Here are some advantages:
You can grow hostas where soil is poor, or even absent (on a patio, deck, or driveway).
You can rearrange hostas with the season, without digging.
Hostas in containers constitute numerous divisions in a Hosta Show.
Many younger hostas, and miniature hostas, will appreciate growing in ideal conditions without root
competition.
On the other hand, hostas in pots need some extra care, especially during winter. Even with the best
care, you will lose a hosta from time to time, but by following some basics you can keep losses to a
minimum.
Here are some basics for growing hostas in pots. For a longer discussion, see what the folks
at Bridgewood Gardens have to say.
First, if you are choosing a decorator pot (not just growing in nursery pots), make sure it is frostproof. Even the best ceramic pots may break eventually, but you don't want to make it a given. If
you are going to move it for winter (see below), make sure the full pot won’t be too heavy for you.
You can always fit a good-quality plastic nursery pot into a ceramic pot and move them separately, if
you need to. Don't plant hostas in pots that are too big, but there should be room for roots. Roughly,
it should be at least half as deep as the hosta mound will be tall. And make sure that the pot has
good drainage. Drill extra holes if you need to.
A common way to grow mini hostas is in hypertufa troughs. This is a porous concrete mixture,
usually lightened with peat moss. If properly cared for, these can last for years.
Note that in any case, you will want to make sure that your container, once in place, can drain easily.
Don't set them right on the ground, as the drain holes will quickly plug. You can find attractive pot
feet, or set them on inexpensive paving stones.
Second, use a well-draining potting mix. There is a lot that can be said about this. Many growers will
use a mix that contains a lot of pine bark fines (a fine-grind mulch, really). You may even find a
“nursery mix" at the garden center. Note that this material breaks down fairly quickly, so you'll have
to repot more frequently. Another recommendation is to use commercial potting soil mixed with
poultry grit, about 3:1 by volume. You may have to go to a farm/feed store to find some; the grade
of grit really doesn't matter. However, this is heavier than the potting soil you're used to, so it does
make the pots heavier. Other DVHS people like to use the Organic Mechanics potting mix, which is
based on grain hulls, and so is both light and quick-draining.
Once you have selected your hosta(s), pot and potting mix, put some kind of open mesh across the
bottom drain holes, to limit how much potting mix leaks out. (You can use the plastic mesh bags you
might get in buying onions or the plastic mesh that comes under cooked pizza you have delivered.)
Partially fill the container and place your hostas as you would typically plant in a pot, being sure to
untangle the roots and spread them out in the pot. If you're creating a miniature garden (sometimes
called a trough garden), use your creativity. You can also include some companion plants, choosing
ones that will have the same winter needs as the hostas.
The downside to a quick-draining soil mix is that you must not neglect the watering! Water the plants
in well after planting, then water frequently during the growing season, every day or two during hot
periods. Frankly, opinions are quite mixed on using moisture-retaining additives in potting soil. If you
have used such products and like the results, then give it a try. Fertilize lightly, even if you don't
routinely fertilize your in-ground hostas, but stop by mid-August to let the plants head for their
winter nap.
Come winter, you will have some work to do. The hostas will go dormant, perhaps sooner than
those planted in your garden. Don’t worry; you'll probably find they come up a little earlier in spring.
Once the plants are dormant, they need almost NO water. It is very important that the containers not
get water-logged during winter, when freezing temperatures are likely. Remember that hostas
require a cold dormancy period, generally about 30 days of temperatures below 40 °F. This means
that your basement is likely far too warm. Ideally, move your containers to an unheated shed or
garage. Less ideally, move them to a protected location outside, and cover them with a good blanket
of leaves or even a white plastic sheet. If your plants are in nursery pots, some gardeners will lay
them on their sides before covering with leaves. Remember: cold is not the enemy, water is. And, it
must be said, so are critters: voles just love to find your hosta pots and stay fat and happy all winter
eating through them. If your plants are inside a shed, it's easier to protect from rodents. Do note,
though, that such winter storage means all your companion plants must also go dormant, able to
survive several months in the dark.
During winter, if there is an extended warm spell where temperatures will be above 50 °F for a few
days, you can water the pots, making sure they'll be pretty dry before freezing temperatures return.
If you have snow piles around and know the temps are climbing, put a handful of snow on the pot.
Not enough to cover, just enough to seep in as it melts. Keep an eye out for invasion by voles, using
poison bait if you must.
When temperatures warm in spring, you can resume gentle watering until the plants break ground.
Protect the emerging plants, if you can, from spring freezes, since your container hostas will likely be
up before those in your garden. Watch for signs of crown rot, which is more likely to be a problem
with your larger plants than with your minis. Be a little stingy with water at first, until the plants are
leafing out.
Enjoy your hosta containers!