Those are handsome hostas, Paul. No sign of damage there, despite the backward spring. Even Carnival shows to advantage (I say "even" because the drawstring effect is something I dislike in mine). All I can crow about is that the cool rain has given me the world's champion slugs (blue ribbon variety).

Steve

Very nice, Paul. You always seem to have a couple of unusual/uncommon varieties to show us with each photo-thread. I must ask; the small plant in front of 'Geisha' with the spotted leaves and beautifully-colored little flowers...What is the name of that? It's awesome.

Thanks,
Don B.

Paul - you and your hostas are both making up for lost time. They look GREAT. Thanks for letting us admire them.
Jan

Don - that is Pulmonaria(Lungwort) 'Raspberry Splash' .

Here's a pic on 5/26 - goes thru this flowering stage.....

Close up of flowers.....
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....and then the regular leaves come out and the flowers drop down. This is pic from last year - by the looks of the flowers above, it is going to be much bigger this year. Growing in bright shade and some morning sun. I grow a number of different ones some are almost all white with a green speckled border.

Paul

Thank you, Paul.

Don B.

Nice plants,Paul. I see your Lakeside Cupcake looks about like mine. Mine has just one eye again,but the leaves are wider. Phil

I've really been enjoying your emerging plants. They all look great. How old is your Carnival? I ask because mine went through several ugly duckling years with the leaves but now it's great. It pulls just enough for them to look puffy like a pillow. I like it very much.

Thanks all for the comments.

McT - I planted Carnival in 2005 and moved it in 2008. Gets a bit more light in new location. Here is the best leaf pic I ever got of it, but if you look in background you can see an earlier leaf badly drawstringed.
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Paul

Nice hosta. Enjoyed seeing them. You have many that haven't even been on my radar. It's nice seeing pics of ones that aren't as familiar to me.

Paul, thanks for taking the time to post your pictures. .. I've had a feast! Keep 'em coming please. . lol

Thanks for sharing, Paul. Great plants and photos.

bk

Aw, yours are all fresh and pretty right now. I love the wide range of greens that are on display. And I envy your pulmonaria--my husband bans spotted plants from our gardens.

A couple more questions:

What is the star-shaped ground cover you have with Carnival?

And do you let your oak leaves deteriorate over the growing season or do you clear them out of your beds eventually? (I'd love to reduce the labor in my garden and let them deterioriate--I have maple leaves--but I find they harbor slugs!)

weekendweeder - the ground cover is Sweet Woodruff, a little goes a long way in time - started with a 4" pot in probably '07 or '08 and now I have 4 big areas of it. Can be pulled/dug pretty easily.

On the leaves, almost all my leaves are oak, I mulch and bag as I mow and cover my beds in fall. By next fall they are pretty much gone. I used to buy lots of mulch - now only buy a bit to dress the edges every couple of years. In spring, I pull back the leaves as the pips are starting.

Paul

You have a nice selection of well grown plants, Paul. Keep the pix coming.

tj

Gosh Paul, you had to remind me that I want Korean Snow.

I forgive you though, because I enjoy your pictures so. Keep 'em coming.