I’ve been more than a little scuppered with this blog in the last couple of days as my camera has been playing up and I have resorted to using my phone today, something I rarely use for photographs, and although I rambled round the garden observing the foliage on offer I have still kept photographs to the minimum because of this. Every 22nd of the month garden bloggers around the world have the opportunity to post their foliage photos and leave a link on myhesperidesgarden hosted as usual by Christina – thanks Christina! Interesting that last GBFD I also had camera problems!
The photos above and below show some of the hostas I have begun grouping together. I had removed one hosta from a concrete urn that I had taken a dislike to, repotting it in one of the numerous unused terracotta pots I had tucked away, and placed it beside another potted hosta. Liking the effect, I decided to add to it buying two or three more small hostas and bringing an offshoot back from my Mum’s. They are not in complete shade, but like the rest of the garden they do receive shade for at least part of the day, and grouped together like this they show the value of foliage in its own right and will continue to do so for many months. Flowers without foliage would be flawed…
Rambling in the Garden 
You have some lovely hostas in pots Cathy, is that Sum and Substance in your top photo? I only once grew a hosta in a pot and it was ravished by snails, since then they have all been in the ground and they are fine, the birds and hedgehogs can get under and round them to eat slugs and snails! Do you have problems with yours?
I think it is Sum and Substance – I know I have bought one! Definitely no problem with slugs and snails in the pots, whether it’s the hedgehog or birds or just luck I don’t know. I am certainly pleased with how quickly they look like ‘a collection’, even though none of them are out of the ordinary. I was attracted by a couple when we visit4ed Barnsdale, but deliberately didn’t go into the nursery afterwards – I wonder why?!
In my opinion hostas in pots always look good and yours certainly confirm this. Perhaps a few more! After all, when can you ever say “a collection” is complete (I believe there are quite a few varieties!). I hope your camera recovers soon as I do so enjoy looking at your photographs.
Thanks Tim for your kind words about the pictures. I am sure I can manage more hostas – I have spare pots! It surprised just how much better two or three hosta pots looked than just a single one.
Nice collection – you don’t have to be rare to be beautiful. I am a bit of a hostaphile too and I’m slowly increasing my colony now I’m more confident that we will tolerate life here – no slug or snail problems, just the wind. They’re also great in pots and will do a splendid job in a shady corner.
I am so glad there are some things you can rely on – and without a slug or snail problem then they are pretty tough. Is it the wind chill that can affect yours? I love seeing really huge clumps in a pot, so most of mine have still a long way to go.
Despite your problems with your camera, the images of your Hosta collection are perfect. I love hostas grouped together like this, thanks for taking time to join in this month Cathy.
You are welcome – and thinks for kind words. Many ‘garden bloggers’ are far more adept with their cameras than I am, so I have been really chuffed when I have achieved decent pictures
I love Hosta and put them in all kinds of pots including one large enough to fill and drape over a barrel. 🙂
Ooh – I was just saying how much I like to see the huge clumps of hostas in pots! Sounds lovely!
A most pleasing gathering Cathy and not a mollusc bite in sight. I’m envious 🙂
Tee hee! I am sure you have lots of enviable vegetables and things (well-fed slugs?) though!
Lovely foliage, lovely pots! Mine suffer from mollusc bites too! Cathy – how have you avoided this?!
The pots have been underused and empty for ages and I was determined to use them. How do I avoid slugs and snails? Not sure – I try and live and let live in the garden but I rarely see evidence of them. Perhaps the birds get to them first – or maybe they are just very respectful.
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