Ground Cover December 2014 [Winter Edition] | Page 7

Hosta Shade Garden Updates

In 1985, Gene Heineman and Jim Schwarz made a trip to Barrington Lakes, Illinois, to see if Roy Klehm of Klehm Nursery
would donate some of his trademark peonies to our newly established arboretum. They were impressed with his hosta
collection as well. One of the hostas was priced at $50.00! When Mr. Klehm was asked about donating a few of these
unusual hostas for the arboretum, he generously agreed, donating “Sun Power,” “Frances Williams,” “Blue Umbrellas,”
“Shade Fanfare,” and “Gold Standard” to name a few. This original collection of hostas was planted underneath a cluster
of wild plum trees and labeled as gifts. That was only the beginning. Many others have been added since then.
Today, almost 30 years later, the hosta shade garden is
composed entirely of materials given by generous donors
and marked with the donors’ names. That process of
procurement continues and approximately 400 more
plants have been given.
The Dubuque hosta gardens continue to expand (like
any remodeling project) with updates and innovations.
We have done some relabeling, and removed hostas
not found on hosta bed maps. Bill Jaeggi and Jim Barth
have donated many hours in securing new signage. Don
Cummings has volunteered to help with this project.
We have learned that wrens like to eat slugs (some eat
small holes in hosta leaves). Don Cummings will donate
12 wren houses on stakes to be placed in the spring
along with signs that tell others about how wrens help in
the fight against slugs.
We noticed that there were some beds that needed
more hostas. Other areas needed more colorful new
varieties. When the need was presented to the Dubuque
Regional Hosta Club, Ed and Jean Schulz, Jim Huseman,
Linda Port, Linda Cunningham and Bob and Cheryl Hird
donated many newer varieties. Don Cummings and Jim
Huseman have planted these additions and put new
labels on them. Things are coming along well and look
good.

TOP: Karen Schwarz with a van load of hostas from the
Zilis collection. BOTTOM: Hosta Society members (left to
right) Linda Wright, Jim Huseman, Mary Ann Emery, Karen
Schwarz, Jim Schwarz, and Bob Hird.

The plan was to update our hosta maps for the beds and
acquire a list of all of the different kinds. The DABG has
close to 1000 varieties. That update was to conclude the
project.

Two things changed that. First, a row of towering arborvitae lined the north side of the garden. They were overgrown and
allowing for too much shade and causing root damage to other plants. Lloyd Streif removed the arborvitae in preparation
for the installation of a new fence. It was determined that a new fence would provide a privacy screen.
Then, Mark Zilis gave us about 200 large plants. All of these hostas were either varieties we didn’t have or unnamed
seedlings to observe. So, several volunteers made trips to Rochelle, Illinois, to pick up the donated hostas. It was a goal to
place them in the ground before the snow flies. We also accepted a donation of 23 plants from Wade and Gatten Nursery.
In the Spring, the hostas will be counted and recorded. The educational signage and wren houses will go up. New things
are coming, just in time for company.
The Dubuque Regional Hosta Society has decided to host the Midwest Hosta Society Convention in Dubuque in July
of 2015 (9th-11th). This event will include an evening viewing of the Hosta Shade Garden after a picnic in the Packard
Pavilion. This is the third time the Dubuque organization has held this event. We are looking forward to showing off our
beautiful gardens and all of our new acquisitions!
Submitted by Jim & Karen Schwarz and Sue Lemon

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