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Billy & Hanna Secord Burnsville, Minnesota


           A passion for hostas that began when Billy was thirteen has led to the creation of their expansive
         private  collection,  with  tens  of  thousands  of  plants  at  their  home.  They  have  more  than  1,200
         cultivars  of  hostas,  many  of  which  exist  in  mass  plantings,  with  hundreds  of  other  types  of
         perennials (astilbe, lilies, irises, daylilies, ferns, wild geraniums, etc.) mixed in to create an exciting
         blend of both color and texture.


           After removing countless buckthorn and Chinese elm trees, more than 100 white pines have been
         added to their property during the past few years, along with a mixture of fruit trees and ornamental
         bushes. The landscape is ever changing. As an oasis for local wildlife, they share their property with
         deer,  fox,  coyotes,  opossums,  turkeys,  hawks,  tree  frogs,  skunks,  and  dozens  of  other  native
         species,  with  nature  cameras  positioned  throughout  the  gardens  capturing  the  menagerie  on  a
         nightly basis.


           This spectacular garden includes 70 feet of elevation change from the east to the west side of the
         property. The lawn area and back side of the home are relatively flat allowing for the many hosta
         varieties to be easily viewed along established paths. The elevation change includes a long steep
         driveway and a hill which lead to several pockets of hostas.


           Prior to the pandemic, Billy traveled upwards of 300 thousand miles a year for work, with monthly
         trips  throughout  Asia  Pacific.  The  gardens  have  always  served  as  his  sanctuary  whenever  he
         returned home to unwind and reconnect with nature. With twin toddlers born in 2020, a new chapter
         is now being written. His wife Hanna and he look forward to sharing their love of living things with
         their children.


















                                                       DANNY LAWSON                                                    DANNY LAWSON








         Massive clumps of hostas and
         companion plants.                                   Multiple clumps of H. ‘Orion’s Belt’ to view.





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