GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Our Next Meeting July 19, 2016, 6:30 PM, come at 6:00 to view the garden Gary "Joe" & Gloria Smith 106 Ravine, Morton, Illinois

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1 GREAT EXPECTATIONS Central Illinois Hosta Society July Volume 22, issue 5 Barry s Beat We just returned from the American Hosta Society annual convention in St. Louis, Missouri. Ten gardens were featured on the garden tour, ranging from multi-acre gardens to small city lot gardens. A great variety of styles were evident in the gardens, reflecting the individual personalities of the owners. One of the joys of getting to visit these gardens is the opportunity to meet and talk with the owners, and to get some insight into how their gardens developed over time. The annual auction at the AHS convention brought in over $12,000 this year, with Van Wade once again donating nearly one third of the plants for the auction. Those signed up for the CIHS bus trip will see two of those national tour gardens. The convention also offered informative educational speakers and a key note address by Dr. Parwinder Grewal, the lead researcher for the AHS funded study of nematode research. Dr. Grewal summarized the results of his study and provided recommendations for treatment. He feels that hot water treatment while hostas are just beginning to break dormancy in the spring can help reduce the nematode population. The most effective chemical treatment remains the use of an early season drench of the organic product, NemaKill, with follow up spraying of the underside of the foliage. Also highlighted was the importance of removing the dead foliage in the fall. If a leaf is infected with nematodes, failure to remove the leaf virtually insures that the nematodes will overwinter on the dormant bud surface or in close proximity in the soil on that effected plant. Limiting overhead watering of untreated plants that are infected will reduce the migration of nematodes from the infected plant to adjacent plants. The nematodes must have a wet surface to migrate. If you did not make it to St. Louis for the national convention, consider going to Champaign for the Midwest Regional Convention. There are ten gardens open for tours, as well as the University of Illinois arboretum, which has an AHS display garden. Hosta vendors from the Midwest Region and beyond will be there. Vending and the auction are open to the public, so there is no need to register if you just want to attend those events. Gardens are now at their peak. Take a break from weeding and watering to enjoy the fruits of your labors! See Maggie Keesey for a few remaining Solberg Hostas to fill in that blank spot in your hosta garden. Continued on page 7 Our Next Meeting July 19, 2016, 6:30 PM, come at 6:00 to view the garden Gary "Joe" & Gloria Smith 106 Ravine, Morton, Illinois Gary and Gloria Smith fell in love with the Asian influence in garden design after touring gardens in Hong Kong and China so you will find oriental style garden items, such as pagodas, lanterns, and statues, sprinkled throughout their garden. It is unusual to find gardens in this area with an Asian influence, but it is the perfect setting for hosta, which originated in Asia. Gary also built beautiful oriental style trellises as backdrops to the garden. Gloria feels that hosta should be mixed with lots of companion plants so all the gardens are filled with other perennials and annuals. Gary is a former firefighter and his collection of firefighting equipment is prominently featured in the garden. The oriental design and Gary's collections makes for a most unusual garden. Don't forget to bring a lawn chair. Directions: Take the Morton exit off I74 East. Turn right or south on Morton Avenue. Turn right or west on Jackson Street, which is State Route 150. Go 2.5 miles and turn right on Sycamore, which is almost at the boundary between Morton and East Peoria. Turn right on Ravine. Notice: To provide adequate time for viewing Host Gardens, each Garden will be open to visitors ½ hour early at 6:00, while the meeting starts at 6:30. 1

2 Hostas of the Month Strawberry Surprise has heartshaped grey-green leaves with a wide yellow margin that turns quickly to creamy white. Petioles are a pinkishred color. This is medium in size. Heat Wave is a medium to large hosta with very heavy substance. The leaves, highly puckered, are blue and have a chartreuse/gold center. Flowers are lavender and it s a sport of Hosta 'Bright Lights'. Royal Flush (top right) is a beautiful hosta with yellow margins with some streaking on a medium olive green leaf. A medium sized hosta. Victory (bottom right) is a large vase shaped mound of green centered leaves with creamy white margins. Could be described as extra-large, growing 3-4 in width a magnificent hosta CIHS Calendar If you are interested in opening your garden for a meeting in 2016, please contact Janette Smith, Deb McCollum or any board member. We d love to See your garden. Officers President Barry Ankney cihshostaclub@gmail.com Vice Presidents Janette Smith, Deb McCollum , cjsmith119@gmail.com debmccollum@gmail.com Second Vice Presidents Penny Bocelli, Deb Schoedel penelopebocelli@gmail.com parttime94@aol.com Third Vice President Wendy Kamischke kamisgh@yahoo.com Recording Secretary Sue Eckhoff gardenermom22@gmail.com Corresponding Secretary Maggie Keesey magskeesey@gmail.com Treasurer Dan McConnell drdtm@mtco.com To Join: Central Illinois Hosta Society $10 or $15/year, form on back July 19, 2016, 6:30 pm Gloria Smith 106 Ravine, Morton August 16, 2016 Annual Auction Freedom Hall 349 W. Birchwood Street, Morton September 20, 2016, 5:30 & 6:30 CIHS Banquet Pekin Country Club Midwest Reg. Hosta Society $20/2 years, Send dues to: Barbara Schroeder, Treasurer 1819 Coventry Drive Champaign, IL American Hosta Society $30 individual, $57/2 years $34 family, $62/2 years Send dues to: Sandie Markland AHS Membership Secretary Post Office Box 7539 Kill Devil Hills, NC

3 Membership Memo W e wish to extend a warm welcome to our newest members, Donna Landon and Roger and Kathy Becker. Donna lives in Farmington and heard about CIHS at an ICC event. The Becker s live in Peoria and heard about us through friends. Please visit us online at There you will find a members only section which includes a current membership directory, the online newsletter and other useful information. If you haven t already received the new password for 2016 which was issued on 4/01/16, please contact Kaeli or Debbie. CIHS Membership Co-Chairs: Kaeli McIntire kmac1342@yahoo.com and Debbie McCollum debmccollum@gmail.com or Hosta-Leaf Contest July 19 July Meeting Get Ready it s time for our annual Contest to be held at our July 19th meeting. We have added some new categories this year: Best Corrugated/Puckered Hosta Leaf Best Rippled-Edge Hosta Leaf Most Interesting Variegated Hosta Leaf Best Floral Arrangement using Hosta Leaves Most Interesting use for a Hosta Leaf/Hosta Plant Prizes will be awarded to one winner in each category. Please write the name of the Hosta on the leaf or arrangement. A sharpie usually works well. In order to allow judges plenty of time to review and select winners, please check-in at the registration table by 6:00 pm on the night of meeting. If you have any questions, please contact Janette Smith or Debbie McCollum. Request for Auction Donations We are nearing the date of our CIHS Auction on August 16, Our society is fortunate to have 60 hosta donated from Ken and Betty McGarvey. They are all mature plants, and thriving in pots at White Oak Nursery and stored in the hoop house. We are certain that there will be one or two that you can t live without. What we do need, though, are donations of garden art, garden tools, or even some decorative pots. In addition, we are accepting plant donations, such as ferns, coral bells, or other shade perennials! We count on your generosity to help make this event a success. Donations will be accepted from 5:30 until 6:00 the night of the auction. The auction will be held in the comfort of Freedom Hall in Morton. We are hoping to see all of our members, and we ask for your support. Auction Update... Help Needed!!!!! We are in need of people for various positions at our auction being held Tuesday, August 16, 2016 in the cool comfort of Freedom Hall in Morton. We are using a computerized system in registering donations, recording bids, and check-out for the auction (the same one used at our National and Regional Conventions) which should make the process much easier. The following volunteers required are as follows: Check-In Help (2) Display Arranging (1) Auction Item Runners (2) Checkout Receive Payments (2) must be proficient with Excel Recording Bids (2) must be proficient with Excel Spotters (2) helping the auctioneer see who is bidding We will be having a planning meeting with our volunteers. Date and place to be announced at our July meeting. Any questions, please direct them to Penelope Bocelli at 2vpCIHS@gmail.com or phone (mobile) or (home). 3

4 Summer Alert Beware of Drought! M ost reference books on hosta will report that they are quite adaptable to dry shade conditions once they have become established. While this may be true, there is also a practical limit to most generalizations. During the growing season the hosta rhizome or crown is building reserves that will be used the following spring. Large amounts of water are also required to replace the natural transpiration that occurs with the large leaves. If (as we typically do in the Midwest) encounter a prolonged spell of hot, dry weather, the rhizome will spend reserves to support the plant. Ever wonder why a hosta appears OK at the end of the year, but appears much smaller and/or less vigorous the following spring, or (even worse) fails to reappear altogether the following spring? This is most likely the result of a decline in the crown mass the previous summer. So what to do if we do encounter a typical Kansas City summer with day upon day of hot temperatures and extended dry spells? Avoid the stress by watering deeply at least once a week during the summer if we don t receive any help from Mother Nature. Optimum moisture is reported between one and one and a half inches of water per week during the growing season. This is especially important if your hostas receive significant levels of direct sun exposure. Watering time is also important. Watering in the morning will help discourage both slugs and fungal activity. Use of soaker hoses works well. When watering blue leafed hostas avoid overhead watering of the leaves which can slowly destroy the glaucous bloom (i.e. the waxy covering that makes a green hosta appear blue). Residual water droplets on any leaf which is followed by sun exposure can also result in leaf burn. By Rob Mortko, reprinted, courtesy of the AHS Newsletter Exchange AHS Foliar Nematode Research 2015 Progress Report T he draft Final Report of the AHS Foliar Nematode Research Project has just been received from Dr. Parwinder Grewal and his team of scientists at the University of Tennessee. This article is a quick summary of the key findings of the two year study. Some conclusions relate to the seasonal timing of chemical controls. When the report has been finalized and approved by the AHS Advisory Committee, the entire report will be posted on the AHS website. The AHS will produce a brochure and forward it to sponsoring societies and individuals. Key Findings Overwintering - Foliar nematodes do not overwinter as eggs in soil or in hosta plant tissues. They overwinter as juveniles and adults in soil and in below-ground hosta crown tissue. This was a key finding relative to potential chemical treatments. Foliar nematodes may also overwinter in a desiccated state in withered leaves. Migration - Foliar nematodes move upward from overwintering sites onto hosta petioles in the spring and early summer at high humidity levels that would be experienced during spring rains or even dew that is formed as temperatures drop at night below the dew point. Foliar nematodes appear to move downward during the autumn season in a different manner. They may simply drop from the foliage (aided by rain or water that washes them downward) or they may ride the withering foliage to the ground. In any event they return to the ground where they overwinter in the soil and in the crown (in the outer-most layers of buds). Continued on page 5 4

5 Chemical Controls - Foliar nematodes were exposed directly to 23 different chemical products in an aqueous suspension to determine toxicity. This test served as a screening tool to narrow the list of chemicals for further testing. The most effective of these products were then used in soil drench testing. Growth chamber experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of soil drench treatments with selected chemicals and hot water to control foliar nematodes in the soil of potted hosta plants. Pylon, Nemakill, and hot water were the most effective treatments that virtually eliminated the nematodes from soil. Spraying of nematode-infected leaf discs with Pylon miticideinsecticide or Nemakill organic nematicide resulted in 100% mortality of nematodes. Testing also indicated no evidence of phytotoxicity for Pylon or Nemakill treatments on healthy hosta plants. Residual activity of Pylon in soil was up to 30 days compared to 20 days for Nemakill. However the mortality rate drops rather quickly 10 days post treatment for both chemicals. Residual activity should also be compared to a typical 10 to 14 day life cycle for foliar nematodes. Other chemicals including ammonia, Clorox bleach, KMnO4 (potassium permanganate), NaDCC (sodium dichloroisocyanurate) and ZerolTol broad spectrum bactericide/fungicide provided complete control when in direct contact with foliar nematodes but less effective control when used as a soil drench. Conclusions - Chemical controls have been identified that appear to give good control of foliar nematodes. One chemical (Pylon) is labeled for greenhouse use only and therefore an option limited to commercial growers. The other chemical (Nemakill) is an organic product (OMRI certified) that is exempt from EPA registration. Nemakill contains natural oils (cinnamon, clove and thyme). While hot water provided good control, it is more of academic interest rather than practical use in the garden. Multiple repeat treatments timed based on residual activity would be expected to further improve overall control. An initial soil drench at the time of bud break (i.e. pips appearing) in the spring would be recommended since the nematodes are all in one place (i.e. underground in the soil and in the crown). A foliar spray in the summer (especially on clumps that appear symptomatic) would also be a reasonable consideration. Spraying the bottom side of the foliage where the stoma are located may further aid in access of the chemical to the nematodes. Removal of foliage in the fall from affected clumps will further help reduce nematode populations. Relative costs Pylon - Available to commercial growers at $ for 16 ounces. At a dilution of 1.0% v/v, a 16-ounce container will yield 12.5 gallons. Nemakill - Price available from ExcelAg Corp. USA. Sizes: 8 ounces, 32 ounces, 128 ounces. At a dilution of 0.5% v/v (1.3 tbsp per gallon), an 8-ounce container will yield 12.5 gallons. AHS Members Can Purchase Nemakill. For more information visit AHS members have expressed interest in purchasing this organic product for fighting foliar nematodes. Manufacturer ExcelAg Corp. USA is establishing a national distribution network. With the exception of AHS Members, Nemakill is sold commercially. The prices below are discounted for AHS Members. Be sure to mention you are a member. At a dilution of 0.5% v/v (1.3 tbsp per gallon), an 8-ounce container will yield 12.5 gallons. $25.00 for 8 ounces; $97.25 for 32 ounces; $ for 128 ounces. If an AHS member experiences difficulty placing an order directly with ExcelAg, please contact AHS VP Genus Hosta, Cindy Deutekom at cindydeutekom@gmail.com By Cindy Deutekom Blackstock, Ontario and Rob Mortko Olathe, Kansas; this article was reprinted from the Spring 2016 issue of The Hosta Journal; Vol. 47, No. 1, page 10 Some Fragrant Hosta 56 hosta are officially registered as having fragrant flowers) of these, only 27 are actually available/genetically stable/and truly fragrant Aphrodite (above right) /Japan NR (H. plantaginea mutation a double flower) Austin Dickinson /E. Lachman 1992 (H. Resonance x H. plantaginea) Bennie McRae /N. Suggs 1989 (H. plantaginea hybrid) Buckwheat Honey /H. Benedict 1984 (H. plantaginea x H. Ginko Craig ) List continued on page 6 5

6 Curley Top /H. Benedict 1985 (H. Ginko Craig x H. plantaginea) Diana Remembered /J. Kulpa 1997 (H. Seventh Heaven mutation) Emily Dickinson /E. Lachman 1987 (H. Neat Splash hybrid x H. plantaginea) Fragrant Blue /P. Aden 1988 (H x H. 8270) Fragrant Bouquet (top right)/p. Aden 1982 (H. Fascination x H. Summer Fragrance ) Fragrant Gold /P. Aden 1982 (H. Sum and Substance hybrid) Fragrant Tot /P. Aden 1982 (H. Amy Aden hybrid) Fried Bananas /B. Solberg 1994 (H. Guacamole mutation) Fried Green Tomatoes /B. Solberg 1995 (H. Guacamole mutation) Garden Bouquet /V. Sellers 1983 (H. Iron Gate Bouquet mutation) Guacamole (bottom right)/b. Solberg 1994 (H. Fragrant Bouquet mutation) Honeybells /Cumming 1950 (H. plantaginea x H. sieboldii) Hoosier Harmony /Indiana Hosta Society 1995 (H. Royal Standard mutation) Invincible /P. Aden (H. Aden 314 x Aden 802) Iron Gate Delight /V. Sellers 1981 (H. plantaginea x H. Tokudama Aureonebulosa ) Iron Gate Glamour /V. Sellers 1981 (H. plantaginea x H. Tokudama Aureonebulosa ) Mistress Mabel /E. Lachman 1995 (H. Beatrice F6 x H. Blue Moon ) x H. plantaginea) Old Faithful /O. Petryszyn 1991 (H. plantaginea x H. Old Faithful ) Royal Accolade /B. Zumbar 1986 (H. Royal Standard mutation) Royal Standard /Wayside 1965 (H. plantaginea hybrid) So Sweet /P. Aden 1986 (H. Fragrant Bouquet x Aden #462) Sombrero /B. Savory 1991 (H. Honeybells hybrid) Sugar and Cream /M. Zilis 1984 (H. Honeybells mutation) Sugar Babe /B. Solberg 1996 (H. Iron Gate Supreme x H. Saishu Jima ) Summer Fragrance /K. Vaughn 1983 (H. plantaginea x H. Vaughn 73-2) Sweet Jill /H. Benedict 1986 (H. plantaginea x H. Tokudama hybrid mutation) Sweet Marjorie /H. Benedict 1983/ (H. plantaginea x H. Ginko Craig ) Sweet Sunshine /B. Solberg 1997 (H. Sweet Susan x H. Tokudama Aureonebulosa ) Not Registered Sweet Susan /F. Williams 1958 (H. plantaginea x H. sieboldii) Sweetie /P. Aden 1988 (H. Fragrant Bouquet x Fragrant Candelabra ) Warwick Essence /G. Jones 1993 (H. Northern Halo x H. plantaginea) Courtesy of the Illinois Prairie Hosta Society from its newsletter, Prairie Hosta Herald, Volume 11, Issue 7, September

7 White Oak Nursery Specializing in Hostas, Daylilies, Bearded Iris and Siberian Iris Please visit our website for an online catalog of offerings. We have over 600 varieties of Hosta We have purchased all of the hostas from The Hosta Patch, and will be adding many more varieties later this year. CIHS Members are welcome to come view our offerings Please call for an appointment and directions. Open Garden Days: June 4, 5, 11 & 12 - Noon to 4 White Oak Nursery Washburn, IL (309) hostas@whiteoaknursery.com Continued from page 1 We will be busy the next few weeks preparing hostas to donate to the Midwest Regional Convention auction. A friend from AHS has invited us to visit them in Ohio in August, and will take us to Van Wade s nursery for a special tour. We are obviously excited by this opportunity. Our July meeting is on the 19th at 6:30 pm at the home of Gloria Smith, 106 Ravine, Morton. Come early to enjoy the garden, and avoid the line for raffle tickets. The CIHS Board is considering hosting the Midwest Regional Convention in Please share your thoughts with the members of the board over the next several months. The Board needs to decide whether to commit to hosting the convention by August. Hosting a convention is an opportunity for our society to bring in money to our treasury. Remember to renew your membership if you have not already done so. Our dues are $15 per family, with dues reduced to $10 if you choose receiving the newsletter electronically. The online newsletter features many color photos that cannot be provided in the print version. The password for the website has changed. Members have received an from Maggie Keesey with the new password. At your service. Barry Ankney, CIHS President 7

8 Central Illinois Hosta Society P.O. Box 3098 Peoria, IL First Class Postage Check us out! For information regarding dues or membership, contact: Deb McCollum, or Kaeli McIntire 8 Newsletter Deadline: 20 th of the preceding month Submit items for publication to: Bob Streitmatter com CIHS Membership Form (please print) Name(s) Address City State Zip Phone How did you find us? Friend/Word of Mouth Website Newsletter Event/Presentation Facebook Newspaper (which one) Other Dues (circle one): $10/year for electronic newsletter or $15/year for paper newsletter: New Renewal Amount enclosed Make check payable to CIHS and mail check/form to: Central Illinois Hosta Society, P.O. Box 3098, Peoria, IL