Technically, it is still summer for a few more weeks, but the signs that say another gardening season is winding down are becoming more and more obvious. The locusts have been singing constantly for a couple weeks, now, and the grass is wet with heavy dew every morning.

Fall may be arriving as it does every year, but the past month has not been typical for Iowa. Generally, we can count on late summer being hot and dry. We had a couple weeks of stifling heat back in July, but since the heat broke the weather has been very comfortable…except for a couple of days this week. Even better, we have received several good rain showers in the last month. The hostas are beginning to look a little tired and worn out, but most are still looking remarkably good for late August.

This time of year is critical for hostas, as this is when they are storing up food for next spring. The extreme heat and dryness that we usually deal with in Iowa in late summer and early fall is the most common reason otherwise large, healthy hostas “shrink” and return smaller the next year. They didn’t receive enough water to make and store enough food to increase…or even maintain…their size. The number one thing you can do to help your hostas grow big and beautiful is to water them…a lot…especially in late summer and early fall. The rain we have been getting the past few weeks should make for some nice, big hostas next spring!

Back in July we took off to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the Midwest Regional Hosta Society Convention. It was three days packed full of nothing but hostas, hostas, and more hostas! We arrived Thursday afternoon to set up our space in the vending room. Vending was open for a few hours Thursday evening for the “early birds” and we also took a stab at entering leaves in the cut leaf show. We ended up with one blue ribbon and several red and yellow ribbons…not bad for our first try!

Friday we vended all day. Friday is when most people arrive. The people you meet at these events are the best part. It is great catching up with people you know from years past and also a great opportunity to meet up with “internet” friends. Everyone is so friendly…and addicted to hostas! Friday evening we had a fish fry and were entertained with traditional German singing and dancing. Afterwards was the auction (which ran late into the night…and yes, we did our share of bidding!) and then vending for a short time. We were all tired and had to get up early the next morning for the tours.

Hosta stepping stone

It was up early Saturday morning for a full day of garden tours. We visited five gardens in the Milwaukee area. All of the gardens were unique…ranging from collections of beautifully grown specimens and backyard nurseries to serious hybridizing set-ups. All of the garden hosts were more than gracious and accommodating. Of course, this is exactly when the heat wave hit the Midwest and by the time we finished at the last garden, we were more than ready for the air conditioned hotel! We ended the day with the last few hours of vending and finally the banquet and speaker.

Chuck Finke’s “Breeding Pen”

2500+ hosta varieties

Before heading home Sunday morning, we made one last stop to see one of the largest hosta collections in the Midwest, if not the entire US. Can you imagine what 2500+ hosta varieties looks like?? Jack is one of the first people I met at my first convention several years ago and was the driving force behind this convention. I wasn’t going to miss his garden and I’m glad I didn’t…it was worth getting lost for!

We all had a wonderful, though exhausting time. If you are a hosta lover, I highly recommend attending a convention. You will love it…guaranteed! We are already looking forward to 2007 when the Midwest Regional comes to Davenport, Iowa.

You can see all of the pictures from the convention in the 2006 Midwest Regional Hosta Convention gallery.

The week after the Hosta Convention, Independence was featured as KCRG TV9’s “Our Town”. We were one of the businesses to be highlighted. A lot of you were able to see the clip on TV, but if you weren’t able to see it you can download the video and watch it on your computer.

Our Town: Wheelchair Gardener (WMV Video - 2.5 mb)
Our Town: Wheelchair Gardener (Transcript)

July was a little hectic, so I didn’t take many pictures of the garden, but you can see the few I did take in the July 2006 gallery.

The season may be winding down, but there is still much to do to get ready for fall and winter. We brought home a lot of new hostas from the Convention that will be available in the Spring. We are going to be expanding our shade house area to accommodate our ever increasing hosta selection. The ponds all need to be prepared for the winter and the tropical plants moved into the greenhouse. Of course, there are always weeds to battle and we really need to start thinking about our Christmas open house.

Ack!!! I’m not ready to think about cold weather, yet!!

Tropical Water Lily ‘Foxfire’