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Amy & Gregg Peterson Oakdale, Minnesota

Since starting their hosta journey in 2000, they have moved three times, re-establishing a hosta
garden four times. The current garden was restarted after moving back to Minnesota from
Washington State in 2009 with 200 “transplants”, many of them favorites selected for the move.
Currently, their suburban lot holds over 700 different hostas, ranging from giants (Amy’s favorite) to
mini’s (Gregg’s favorite), plus a plethora of other perennials. The backyard garden is accented with
cobalt blue pots, fountains, and metal sculptured critters. It has some theme beds such as a
collection of H. ‘Striptease’ sports and Hostas of the Year. In 2018, their backyard in-ground pool
was removed, resulting in the relocation of many hostas and perennials through 2019. The sunny
front yard was an experiment, with a focus on gold hostas against the backdrop of a brown house
with perennial flowering plant accents in blue, yellow, white, and purple.

Amy and Gregg got the “hosta bug” when they bought a house with heavy shade and were looking
for something to do as a couple. They have been members of both the MHS and AHS for over 20
years. Until Gregg’s passing in early 2019, he was an active hosta speaker to local garden clubs,
answered Q&A at the Minnesota State Fair Hosta Booth, and hosted many tours of their hosta
garden. The behind the scenes work of digging and planting was Amy’s focus. Gregg tagged and
cataloged. As you enter through their gate on the east side of the house, you will see they named
their garden “Hosta Haven”. Amy (and Gregg in spirit) enjoyed sharing their hosta garden with their
fellow “hostaholics” during the Hosta Vision 2020 convention!

Gregg's coworkers from Linder's Garden Center in Roseville, MN, now closed, where he was
called the "Hosta King”, sent the below pillow as a memorial. Gregg would walk to work from his
house to this part time job he held for 8 years. Amy saved it just for display during convention since
being a tour garden stop was his goal. Gregg’s family helped Amy with the garden prep in 2022 to
get the beds ready.

DANNY LAWSON

Fitting tribute to former AHS President Gregg Peterson.

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