Garden Questionnaire: Hosta Garden

Photographs and collage by Hiltrud "Sam" WebberFourteenth in a series

GARDEN NAME: Hosta Garden
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park
2400 S. Scenic
Springfield, MO 65807

When was the garden first created?

2000

Who created the garden?

Greater Ozarks Hosta Society designed by Dr. Bill Roston

Who maintains the garden?

Greater Ozarks Hosta Society and FOG Volunteers

How many plants are in the garden?

Approximately 500

How many plant types are in the garden?

Hosta varieties, wild ginger, astilbes, trailing plant relative of ivy, Japanese maple, nandinas, shade annuals, impatiens

How many plant species are in the garden?

Mostly hybrids, fortunata, several species

How many plant varieties are in the garden?

300 varieties

Are the plants in this garden grouped in any special way?

Bigger ones in back, smaller in front, some drifts of plants are planned.

When is the garden in peak bloom?

Best time to see the garden is in late May or June, "before slugs and weather can beat ‘em up".

What’s especially interesting about this garden that visitors would like to know?

The varieties available and demonstration of diversity of hostas in size, color, and character, variegation, and leaf shape.

Are there any special concepts or strategies shaping this garden?

We try to maintain berms to provide a better display of the plants. The White Garden walkway was created by a landscape architect. In the front half of the garden are the main hosta display beds while the back half was designed by Dr Roston to provide a wedding venue with a grassy area for the audience. Nandina's separate the front from the back "room" of the garden.

Are there future plans for this garden?

We want to increase hosta collection, improve our plant labeling system and construct an arch between the "rooms" on the south side of the garden.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about this garden?

This type garden is probably the best solution for a shady area, notice it is in a walnut grove. Hostas are the most popular shade plant in the United States.

Script for Guide by Cell phone project for HOSTA GARDEN

Written and recorded by Frank Shipe on Prompt 35#

Welcome to the Hosta Garden. You’re looking at more than 300 varieties of hosta, all chosen to reveal the plant’s wide diversity in color, size, plant shape, leaf shape, and variegation. By providing so many effects for shady areas, hostas have become America’s most popular perennial foliage plant. The Hosta Garden reaches its peak beauty in June. In autumn, the plants send up white-to-lavender flowers on long scapes, or stems. Some of the flowers are fragrant. At the rear of the Hosta Garden are a waterfall and lawn area that can be a beautiful setting for weddings. Weddings can be reserved by calling the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center at 417-891-1515.