Re: [SG] Intro

cbhamilton wrote:
>
> Hi, My name is Carolyn Hamilton.  I retired from U.S.West eight years ago
> and really got the "hosta" bug a few years ago.  I live in Bettendorf, Iowa
> on a double city lot.  I have a lot of shade, but am learning the wrong kind
> - one maple (from Massachusetts that we transplanted), three huge silver
> maples  and two birch.  My next door neighbor has a big oak tree in front
> and guess what - a silver maple in back and the other next door neighbor
> also has a silver maple.  They all look the same size, so am assuming they
> all got a package deal for fast growing trees......I've planted hostas and a
> lot of companion plants under the maples and birches and altho the old
> fashioned green hostas  and green and white hostas  do well all of the
> others are very slow growing.  I try to compensate by giving them a lot of
> water in the summer and altho I haven't fertilized much, am going to get a
> load of compost from the city compost yard this summer and spread a layer of
> that to see what it does.  I'm getting more hostas (seem to need just one or
> two more) and its difficult to find a place where there isn't a big tree
> root.    I do the newsletter for our Mississippi Valley Hosta Society so if
> anyone ever sees a nice article on shade gardening, please let me know as
> I'm always on the lookout for articles for my paper.  I'm on the Hosta Robin
> also and am seeing a lot of familiar names - hello to everyone.  Yesterday
> it was 65 degrees here and today its 19 degrees and snowing.    Yesterday,
> in making the rounds around the house, saw some  green leaves poking their
> heads out....Boy are they going to be sorry!     Carolyn Hamilton
Welcome to the Shade Gardening RR, Carolyn;

Your "intro" revealed that you are retired from U.S. West.  Gardening is
a great way to work out all the little frustrations left after a
challenging career there.

Although I am now working for Lucent Technologies, I put in 20 years at
U.S. West.  Most of my good friends have taken a buy-out, or retired,
like you, and are happy doing other things.

You mentioned that you are looking for new hostas this year.  My husband
and I have a perennial nursery, with 141 hostas and 186 perennials
available this year.  We are in Glenwood, Iowa  - across the state from
you.  My catalogs are being mailed this week.  If you would like one,
email me your address and I'll send you one.

Happy gardening - whenever winter finally leaves us!
Phyllis Randall
712-527-4974
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