Hosta La Vista

West Coast Wonders—Mandy’s Trip to Sebright Gardens with Kirk Hansen

This week on Hosta la Vista, Mandy escapes the Midwest's heat to trek into the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley—and we're all along for the ride. After visiting in August, she returns brimming with stories from Sebright Gardens, a true botanical treasure near Salem that cultivates over 1,000 hosta varieties alongside hardy ferns and elegant epimediums—making it ...

This week on Hosta la Vista, we’re chatting with Danny Lawson — hosta aficionado, editor of The Hosta Journal, and President of the Wichita Hosta Society. Danny’s deep knowledge and sharp eye for both plants and gardens have made him a respected voice in the hosta world. In this episode, we talk about his journey from curious collector to seasoned curator, his editorial work shaping The Hosta Journal, and his quest to visit all AHS...

We’re off to discover hidden hosta treasures this episode as we sit down with Josh Spece of In The Country Garden & Gifts, tucked away in Eastern Iowa. With his family by his side, Josh has built a well-respected nursery that feels like a magical secret garden with over 700 varieties of hosta for sale outside of Independence, Iowa.

Tune in to learn how Josh curates a standout collection of hostas, runs a heartfelt family busines...

Hosta La Vista as we chat with the dynamic duo behind Lazy Toad Farm in Clearwater, Minnesota – Joe Rand and Todd Fussy! Discover the inspiring story behind their thriving farm, born from a shared passion and a love for carrying on family traditions. We'll dig into their incredible collection of shade-loving hostas, explore their delicious array of handcrafted pickles, and learn all about their vibrant CSA program brimming with...

Listeners, we have a very fun, light-hearted episode for you this week. Join us as we chat with Julie Lewter and Susan Ragsdale from The Hosta Society of North Alabama as they recount their 2024 Excellent Midwest Hosta Visit spanning 9 days and over a 2,500 miles in a Mitsubishi Outlander.

You'll laugh as they recount this trip they chronicled on Facebook for us all to enjoy. You can see all of their photos and videos on Facebook a...

Seedlings, Symptoms, and Show Stoppers: The Many Hats of David Teager
This week on Hosta La Vista: The Friendship Plant Podcast, we're joined by a true jack-of-all-trades in the hosta world—David Teager. From germinating seeds to judging show tables, David has done it all, and he’s generously shared his knowledge every step of the way.

In this episode, Betsy and Mandy dive into David’s multifaceted contributions to the hosta communit...

From Prairie to Paradise: Dave Hornbaker and the Art of Garden Building
This week on Hosta La Vista: The Friendship Plant Podcast, we're heading to the heart of Illinois to visit with Dave Hornbaker, second-generation co-owner of the beloved Hornbaker Gardens. What started as a dream on a patch of prairie has blossomed into a destination nursery known for its sweeping hosta collections, serene landscapes, and a welcoming spirit that...

The Cochato Way: Growing with Heart and Humor — with Chuck Doughty
In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Chuck Doughty of Cochato Nursery—longtime grower, collector, American Hosta Society President, and the man behind one of the most beautiful hosta nurseries around.

Chuck shares how a small plot of land in Massachusetts became the birthplace of Cochato, how he approaches hostas with both precision and playfulness. ...

This week, we sit down with Andy Marlow — longtime AHS leader, former president, and the sharp eye behind The Hosta Journal's photo editing team. From his first hosta in 1979 to decades spent shaping how we see and share these beloved plants, Andy brings insight, humor, and heart to everything he touches. Whether you're a gardener, photographer, or Society member, you'll find something to love in this wide-ranging conversation with...

In this episode, we dig in with Kathy Pedersen of Heavenly Hostas — grower, guide, and the heart behind one of the Midwest’s most beloved award-winning gardens. Kathy shares stories from the field, what she looks for in a great plant, and the joys of having a show garden. We also explore her life-long friendship with legendary hybridizer Hideko Gowen, and how that relationship helped shape her path in the hosta world. It’s a warm, ...

Welcome back to a new episode of Hosta La Vista — your favorite podcast for all things green, leafy, and slightly obsessive. This week, your hosts Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson head to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to chat with Barb Rauckhorst, President of the North Coast Hosta Society and a proud Master Gardener.

Barb shares her story of falling in love with hostas, leading one of Ohio’s most active local societies, and finding purpose ...

This week on Hosta La Vista, we're honored to welcome Dr. Mary Albrecht, the Vice President-Genus Hosta of the American Hosta Society! Join Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson as they sit down with Dr. Albrecht to explore her journey and deep expertise within the world of hostas. Learn about her pivotal role in the AHS, her insights into the future of the "friendship plant," and the valuable contributions she's made to...

Get ready for a masterclass in hostas! This week on Hosta La Vista, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome the legendary Don Rawson! Sisters Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson sit down with a true titan of the hosta world – a hybridizer extraordinaire whose creations, like Betsy's personal favorite 'Alligator Rock', consistently astound. We're huge fans of Don's groundbreaking work and immensely appreciate his inv...

This week on Hosta La Vista, your favorite garden-loving hosts kick things off with a fun catch-up—sharing laughs, plant updates, and a few surprises from their own shady corners of the garden.

Then it’s time to roll out the green carpet for none other than Olga Petryszyn, legendary hosta hybridizer and a true icon in the hosta world! Olga joins us to share her passion, process, and the stories behind some of her most celebrated cul...

In this episode of Hosta La Vista, we sit down with the one and only David Bowe — a standout hybridizer in the Hosta world whose signature style, sense of humor, and eye for the unusual have earned him a loyal following and a garden full of unforgettable plants.

David has registered over 30 hosta cultivars, many of which share his signature flair for wordplay and personality-packed names. From Summer Rainbow to Beau Brummell, Cupid'...

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of Hosta La Vista — the podcast devoted to the world of Hostas and the people who love them.

We’re bringing you highlights and field reports from the American Hosta Society’s annual convention 2025, whether you were there and want to relive the magic — or missed it and need to know what went down, like me — this one’s for you.

Thanks to Alisa, Tanya and Julie for their coverage of the convention. Lots of ...

In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Matthews, the passionate curator behind one of the UK’s most distinctive plant collections—the British National Collection of Hosta—nestled in the heart of Worcestershire, England. Ben shares the fascinating journey of how his love for this diverse and shade-loving genus grew into a nationally recognized collection.

We explore the unique challenges and joys of curating a living collection, delve ...

This week's guest is Hosta grower, photographer and nationally recognized Hosta judge, Alisa Bowe Lenhardt. A member of the famous Bowe family, she joins us to discuss her own Hosta cultivar, being a show judge and even gives us a warning about how easy HVX can be missed.

Join us as we talk to this expert in flower arranging, getting started with Hosta and the joy of taking the art to the next level-Hosta shows!

This weekend is the...

Welcome to our first episode of Hosta la Vista! This week we introduce ourselves and give a little background on the creation of the pod. Join us as we begin this journey together.

Questions or comments? Send them to hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page. Listener questions will be answered on air. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned each week for new episodes. Click 'follow' or subscribe to stay u...