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The Russ O’Harra Hosta Society is an educational society, based in central Iowa, open to all those interested in the genus Hosta. Its purpose is to promote the growing and enjoyment of hostas, including their use in landscape design and the cultivation and development of new cultivars. The goals of the Society are in keeping with those of the American Hosta Society.  Our society is named for Russ O'Harra, who was one of the most prominent hosta enthusiasts and hybridizers in the Midwest.

Upcoming events:

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February 21-22, 2025  Midwest Regional Hosta Society Winter Symposium

                                     Milwaukee/Brookfield, WI  see http://www.midwesthostasociety.org/   

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April 13, 2025               ROHS spring meeting, Iowa Arboretum and Gardens, Madrid, IA

                                      potluck, speaker, work day

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June 19-21, 2025   American Hosta Society / Midwest Regional Hosta Society joint convention, East Peoria, IL 

                              "Double Feature"    You can register now at https://hostaconvention.org/

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New Newsletter:   October 2024

Today's featured hosta:

 

Sea Monster  by Mildred Seaver (r1978; re-r2010)

 

Halloween is upon us, and monsters are prowling for a night or two, but you can have your own Sea Monster in your garden all year long.  This hosta has large, cupped, thick blue-green leaves that are heavily corrugated.  It has white flowers in late spring and is said to be somewhat salt tolerant.  H 24"  W 46"

See

https://www.hostaregistrar.org/detail.php?id=4625

 

Bobby "Boris" Pickett's song "Monster Mash" was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in Oct 20-27 in 1962, just before Halloween.  It has become a Halloween classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsPdVsIXqzU

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News  October 13

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The ROHS fall meeting was held at the Wallace Learning Center near Orient, IA. 

After the usual scrumptuous potluck lunch, Rob Mortko gave a very informative talk on the process of hosta tissue culture and showed some dazzling new hostas that will be available in the near future. 

 

A short business meeting followed.

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News

August 3

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AHS has approved the establishment of a national display garden at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens.  A bronze plaque will be placed on the grounds.

News

July 27       

In the Country Garden and Gifts-- "Hosta & Dessert Social", Independence, IA

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Bob Solberg (orange shirt in the photo) gave a wonderful talk on how/why hostas are fun.  Barry Ankney of AHS distributed information and recruited new members for AHS.  Some ROHS members enjoyed shopping for more hostas!

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News   

July 11-13

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ROHS members attended the Midwest Regional Hosta Society convention in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin

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News   

Friday and Saturday, May 10-11

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ROHS booth at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden's "Spring Garden Market"

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News from the ROHS spring meeting on April 14:

 

Kris Jurik (left) and Don Draper (right), co-chairs of the 2023 AHS Convention local organizing committee, present ROHS treasurer David Dettmann with a check.  Proceeds from the convention are to be donated to the Iowa Arboretum & Gardens to establish and maintain an AHS Display Garden.

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