Visiting a Local Private Garden

Last week I had the pleasure of visiting a private garden on three acres, south of Boston.

The major plant in the garden is the hosta. You might call the owners in fact hosta collectors.

Three hundred hosta cultivars add color and structure to the very large and densely filled garden.

The names of the hosta include some of my favorites: ‘Sieboldiana ‘Elegans’, ‘Frances Williams, ‘Tocudama Aureonebulosa’ and a blue favorite called ‘Love Pat.’

Here are some of the hostas I saw as I walked along the path in the garden.

There were many other perennials, and woody plants galore. Fruit trees planted with conifers and deciduous trees as well.

Here is a row of an evergreen edging which adds a wonderful look of gold. [below]

In order to get around this large garden the owners sometimes ride their special vehicle to travel the paths that circle around the house, garage, and their one-acre pond. [below]

In fact, I saw one of the owners giving a visitor a ride to see the many plants in the garden.

Though it rained earlier in the day, by the time I got there about 11 a.m. , the rain had stopped.

This garden shows the planning and hard work of the owners. They have lived there for over twenty years and the garden shows a long time of care.

Their love for the garden comes across around every corner and along every path.

.

Hosta History

Koel Kingsbury, the English witer and botanist, published a book called Garden Flora: The Natural and Cultural History of the Plants in Your Garden.

He traces the history of a plant and its importance in our gardens today.

He has a couple of interesting things to say about the hosta.

Kingsbury writes, “The genus, whose name honors Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host (1771-1834), comprises some 45 species from Eastern Asia.”

But then he comments on our love and devotion to this particular plant.

He says, “The genus has a devoted cult following.”

The garden I visited is an example of that passion about hostas.

If you have ever wondered how many hostas there are, Kingsbury gives the answer.

He says, “Hundreds of cultivars are now available.”