AHS ON-LINE AUCTION 2012: Hosta Magic in January!
Don Dean, Online Auction Chair, Ramsey, Minnesota
Reprinted from The Online Hosta Journal, V42 Online
   Is anyone out there interested in all the new nursery releases, classic ‘must have’ plants for any serious hosta garden, rare collector’s treasures, or exclusive breeding stock from members around the country? The 10th American Hosta Society On-Line Auction is tentatively scheduled for January14th - 28th, 2012. Old pros and newcomers alike are invited to join us once again for this much anticipated event that occurs after the soreness of fall garden clean-up has worn off, plant catalogs are being poured through, and dreams of the best gardening season ever are dancing in our heads. Even better, it happens in the dead of winter when we all love to look at plant pictures! If you answered “yes” to any portion of my lead-in question, you are in luck. The auction offers all of the above. Directions at the site are simple and require only a few steps to get you into the auction action.
   I am thrilled to introduce someone that I think you will enjoy. This woman knows how to write, is excited to be able to serve our society, and well, you will welcome a change of pace from my style of writing. Joanna Kovalcsik, AKA Jojo, is the woman I’m describing. She was a huge asset during last year’s Skaggs benefit, composing descriptions for the majority of donations that poured in to the computer of Jeff Miller, the man who directed the auction. I found her writing style lively and fun while capturing the key features of the donation. Get an idea of her writing talents on H. ‘Prince of Peace’, H. ‘Frosty Glen’, and H. 'Passionate Pink' to see for yourself. She unhesitatingly accepted my request to join my efforts in bringing the auction to all of you on behalf of the AHS.
   Jojo has been in love with hostas since 1993, but she didn’t discover there was such a thing as a “hosta community” until 2008.  Since joining the Eastern Michigan Hosta Society, the Hosta Hybridizer Group, and becoming a member of Hostapix, her interest in hybridizing has grown from mere curiosity to a full-blown passion.  Additionally, believing that writing about hostas is almost as much fun as growing them; this funkia fan has authored articles for the British Hosta and Hemerocallis Society Bulletin and the American Hosta Society’s Online Journal.  Hostas are certainly captivating, but spending time with family and friends, plus being involved in church activities are her biggest priorities.  When not in the garden or the grow room, a variety of needle arts, basketry, decorating, and baking are favorite pastimes.  Jojo resides with her mother and a big golden retriever in a house on 10 wooded acres in Vassar, Michigan.
   We already have a few donations. Let’s see if your appetite can be tempted as you feast your eyes upon these!


   First, two of our annual donors have come through once again-Trudy and Bruce VanWyk. They bring us the following hosta:
 
H. ‘Prince of Peace’ NR
 
Out of the hybridizing program of Bob Axmear comes this magnificent melding of sun and sky.  Purchased at auction and named H. ‘Prince of Peace’ by Trudy Van Wyk, this streaked and fertile hosta gem offers excellent substance, pure colors, and outstanding hybridizing potential.  Don’t miss your chance to add its princely form and peaceful hues to your garden.
 
A double division of H. ‘Prince of Peace’ will be shipped to the winning bidder this spring.
 
'Prince of Peace'
'Dover Downs'
'Frosty Glen'
Smith Fab Five
'Passionate Pink'
         
 

   What would an AHS On-Line Auction be without a Goodenough introduction? Yep, Rick has come through once again with:
 
H. ‘Dover Downs’

H. 'Dover Downs' is one of the best of a group of stunning OP seedlings that came out of Rick's test trials for viability and worthwhile traits from his 'Leaping Lipizzan' breeder.  'Leaping Lipizzan' passed the test and ' Dover Downs' has passed its own trials as an excellent pod parent that can pass along blue color to seedlings. This hosta makes a very attractive clump with elongated heart shaped leaves with wavy edges and strong streaking.  As a breeding plant, it sets pods with ease and should be considered as a foundation breeding plant.  This is a rare chance to obtain a piece of a one-of-a-kind streaked hosta.

Rick is donating a single division of ‘Dover Downs' to the lucky winner of this auction, the first ever to leave his garden.

  

   Viktoria Serafin offers up a piece of her blue ribbon baby as well. Take an early morning walk in the spring and greet this:
 
H. ‘Frosty Glen’
           
Everybody loves a winner, and this superb hybrid from Viktoria Serafin of Glenbrook Farm is just that--a blue ribbon winner at First Look 2011.  Exquisitely shaped, silver-blue leaves with gently rippled edges create a medium to large mound that is quite sun tolerant.  Early in the season, soft purple flowers are displayed on short scapes, further complementing its elegant form.  This blue ribbon baby is sure to be a trophy hosta in your garden.  A two-eye division, first to leave Glenbrook Farm, will be shipped to the winning bidder in May.

  
         
 

   R.A. Smith has decided to dive into the action, offering up some of the results of his breeding efforts. Like a five for one bid deal? Check this out:
 
Smith Fab Five
 
This offering is for five (5) streaked, unnamed seedlings from a variety of different hybrid crosses.  This lot will certainly help any budding hosta breeder incorporate a vast pallet of traits and variegation into their program, to include wavy edges, a blue streaked type, and at least one with a little purple in the petioles, as well.  The plants will be selected from this patch of 2-year-old "extras" and the donor will ensure the seedlings selected show good splashed central leaf characteristics before shipping.  These plants should all set viable seeds and the winner can expect an array of streaked seedlings from this lot.  This is a first time offering of plants from the R.A. Smith breeding program, and he'll include the specific linage of each donated hosta.

  

   And, yes, if I am going to ask for folks to step up and donate, I had better set an example. Here you go:
 
H. 'Passionate Pink' (Dean 2011)
 

What is warm like sunshine and intoxicating like kisses?  It’s Don Dean’s H. ‘Passionate Pink’, an amazing combination of puckered golden-yellow leaves topped by scapes filled with blushing bracts and buds.  When open, the fertile lavender flowers nod from lipstick-pink pedicels.  During the 2010 National Hosta Convention, visitors to Don’s garden were stopped in their tracks when they came upon this medium-size hybrid in full bloom.  Persuasion has brought this remarkable beauty to the auction block.  Passion will make it yours.
This is the first OS division of ‘Passionate Pink’ to leave Don’s garden.  Collectors will appreciate knowing that he has no plans to tissue culture it.  A well-rooted single eye (or better) will be shipped to the winning bidder this spring.
 
         
   All communication, news, tips, and more are conducted electronically. The first e-mail notice has gone out to past participants. It regarded taking inventory NOW, before the snow flies, for possible donations. In the event that you did not receive the e-mail in October, be sure to contact Don Dean at dedean@q.com. Simply request that you be added to the auction e-mail group, and you will begin to receive news as it occurs regarding this auction. Each year, old addresses become obsolete due to a change of service providers, software, etc. Missed the news? You are either new or your address bounced back as undeliverable. You will need to contact Don to be included again. Be sure to add Don’s e-mail address to your address book to avoid messages being blocked by your spam filter.
   Last year, a record for total funds reached was attained through the generosity of the donors and bidders. Just as exciting, we gained several new participants and some are committed to donate for the first time. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Rally once again to support our society’s future by participating in this AHS event, whether it is by making an auction donation, bidding, or spreading the word to gardening friends! Participants do not need to be members of the American Hosta Society to take part in this event.

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