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H. ‘Spilt Milk’ came to my yard about 2004. My neighbor
mentioned that he and his wife might enjoy having some
interesting plants on their side of my house. The 3 silver maples
that he had planted just 6 feet from our lot line created dense
shade, so I started looking for hostas that were different from
the H. ‘Royal Standard’, H. ‘Fortunei Hyacinthina’, and H.
‘Fortunei Albomarginata’ that encircled almost every tree on my C D BUDD
property. I bought 2 H. ‘Spilt Milk’ starts that took to the shady
spot very nicely and maintained a steady growth rate until the 3
maple trees began to threaten my roof. My neighbor let me take
them down, and then surprise! H. ‘Spilt Milk’ had full morning
sun! No problem there, the two plants grew as though in a race
until my garden buddy and neighbor Jeanne helped me dig one
of the plants out of its maple root tangle, split it and plant the
splits elsewhere. With all the soil disturbance next to it, I would
have expected the remaining plant to take a few years off, but
no, as of July 13, 2022, it was 72” wide by 33” high, and yes,
many people on the Convention Tour commented about its size.

After first planting H. ‘Justine’ too close to the foundation and
losing it, in 2021 I found it again and bought 3 starts. This time I
gave is lots of air and full morning sun in honor of Justine
Kerfoot, long-time owner of the Gunflint Lodge in the Boundary
Waters along the Canadian border of Northern Minnesota. GAYLE HARTLEY ALLEY
Justine was my employer for 3 summers while I was in college.
I’m happy to report that H. ‘Justine’ has lived up to Justine
Kerfoot’s stamina and colorful characteristics. All 3 starts lived
through a very cold winter and thrive in the sunshine with no
evidence of leaf burn. It’s sure to be a favorite as I remember
working on the Gunflint Trail!

H. ‘Rainbow’s End’ was one of those “must have” hostas
when I first saw a picture of a mature plant, but I was very
doubtful when I saw the plant for sale at Bachman’s here in
Apple Valley, MN. Within a year or so, my doubts were erased,
and it’s been a favorite ever since. I’ve also enjoyed giving a
young nursery plant to friends and watching the disbelief on HANS HANSEN
their faces when I assure them it will look like mine! Although
the original sport was 5 years old when registered in 2005, it
was only 21” wide by 11” high. My plant measured 39” wide by
13” high on July 13 of this year. This photo, taken August 28,
shows the plant after enduring a crew of roofers for 3 days just
two weeks ago!

The Online Hosta Journal | 54