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Myra & Roger Peterson Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Asking Myra to choose a favorite hosta is like asking her who is her favorite child or grandchild.
Each hosta, like each child, is unique and has special gifts to share. If you ask what hosta she has
the most of, it is a tie. H. montana ‘Aureomarginata’ and H. ‘Krossa Regal’ would take that honor. If
you ask her what hosta she has repeatedly bought it would be another tie. She has also
purchased H. ‘Orange Marmalade’ and H. ‘Gemstone’ several times because she did not have them
on her master list - and she liked the hosta! Myra wants to mention H. ‘Guacamole’, H. ‘Halcyon’,
‘El Niño’ and H. ‘Wolverine’ as some of the best performers in her yard. Shade, sun, and water must
be perfect for this ‘Wolverine’, and she must give it a haircut each year because it outgrows its area;
she has shared a portion of this plant with many people.

Her garden started because they had a sink hole in the yard. They called the builder of the house
and asked for help in re-grading. During the project, she decided that she would like to plant a few
hostas. Jon, their third son, offered to come and rototill the area. They added compost, vermiculite,
fertilizer - anything that would help break down the heavy clay soil. Jon helped with the project that
summer, planting, tilling, and carrying bags of additives to enhance the soil. Later that fall, Jon was
killed when his friend accidentally shot him, so the garden became her place of peace. She would
cry, plant, weed, and talk to Jon. Chris, her fourth son, became the builder of hardscape in the yard.
She must tell him what she wants built, but then promise not to get in his face while he is working.
The children helped her plant, and as they planted the flowers, they talked about why she chose
certain plants. She told them each plant was special to her parents, family members, or friends. The
garden has become a memorial celebrating remembrances of special people in her life. She has
pink peonies that came from her maternal grandmother’s garden. Her family members’ children,
grandchildren, and now great grandchildren help in the garden and talk about the special flowers for
special people who have danced in and out of her life with garden design being the music, setting
the tone, and there are special people who dance in and out of the garden design.

Myra’s mobility is now limited, and she has had to enlist garden angels and garden fairies who help
her with the work. Her husband Roger does not garden physically, saying he is a “checkbook
gardener.”

ANDY MARLOW DANNY LAWSON

Water feature with hostas and companion plants. Wonderful viewpoint.

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