Glowing Within

Today started of cold and dull  and later on in the afternoon the sun showed its warming face again. It has been a day of cleaning and catching up on letters and things. So not very exciting!

I noticed this hosta just coming into flower. My hostas with the purple flowers finished flowing ages ago. This plan green hosta has such a beautiful perfume to it, which makes up for its plainness.

Hostas are native to northeast Asia, mainly Japan, China and Korea.  The species of which there is about 70 are mostly clump forming perennial plants with lily-like flowers growing on forest margins or in woodland settings.  Common names that they used to be known by include Funkia, Corfu Lily, Day Lily or Plantain Lily but today they are called Hosta.

The name Hosta is in honor of the Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host.  Hostas require a dormancy period over winter of below freezing for 6 weeks or so to allow the plant to get prepared for the upcoming spring. 

Hostas first appeared in Western Europe around the late 1700's to early 1800's then soon after in USA.  Soil conditions a good loamy soil about ph6 is best make sure to prepare your soil well before planting as they are shallow rooted the surrounding area where you plant the hosta needs to be cultivated before planting. 

Hostas are shade loving plants mostly so it is important to place your plants out of hot mid-day sun as a general rule Most variegated hostas look best with some sun, preferably early in the day. Blue hostas need early-season sun to be their bluest but later in the season too much sun will melt the wax.
For more information on the Hosta