Russ O'Harra Hosta Society
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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June 7, 2026 ROHS garden tour and plant auction, with Ackworth Garden Club;
to reserve a box lunch, fill out this lunch reservation form
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June 10-13, 2026 AHS national convention, "Buckeye Hosta Fever", Dublin, OH
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July 9-11, 2026 MRHS 50th Anniversary Celebration Convention, Madison, WI
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August 16, 2026 Iowa State Fair hosta show
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Assistance/suggestions needed: see this message about Iowa hostas from the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens.
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​Newsletter--April 2026
April 19, 2026 featured hosta:
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Green Earth by S. Hewes (r2019)
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April 22 is Earth Day, which originated in 1970 as an event to support environmental protection and sustainability. Humans now are annually using at least 70% more resources than the earth can sustainably produce, due to overpopulation and overconsumption (the difference comes from the "stored capital" of the earth--clearly an unsustainable condition!). H. 'Green Earth' can help remind everyone of the need to change this trajectory!
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H. 'Green Earth' has very thick, deeply corrugated, green leaves that are moderately cupped, twisted, and wavy overall. Near white, 2.5" long flowers are heavy with a bit of texture and appear in mid-summer. It is an open-pollinated seedling of 'Sum and Substance'. H 25" W 38"
See
https://www.hostaregistrar.org/search_item/6351
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"Going green" means reducing human impact on the environment. The term refers to the great dependence of humans primarily on the green portion of the earth (i.e., that part covered with vegetation, or literally the "green earth"). Actually, most of the earth is blue (71% is covered by water), and 1/4 of the remaining 29% is brown or white (dry and/or very cold). Even so, we depend heavily on all parts of the earth for resources and ecosystem services such as biodiversity, climate control, etc., so "green earth" really means concern for all parts of the earth.
News
April 12, 2026
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The ROHS spring meeting was held at Warren Lodge #53 in Indianola. After a potluck lunch, with guests from the Ackworth Garden Club, there was a short business meeting. The joint summer tour and plant auction with the Ackworth Garden Club, new hostas from local sources, and the Iowa State Fair hosta show were then discussed.
News
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Midwest Regional Hosta Society Winter Symposium -- February 21
​February 21, 2026
The MRHS Winter Symposium, marking the 50th anniversary of MRHS, was held in Brookfield, WI at the Embassy Suites by Hilton hotel. Several members of ROHS enjoyed six presentations, a silent auction, and visiting with fellow hosta gardeners.
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The silent auction featured many outstanding hostas!
Glenn Herold described types of ferns and provided advice on ferns suitable (or not!) for hosta gardens:
Rob Mortko discussed climate change and construction of drip irrigation systems:
Bob Solberg gave an update on nomenclature and areas of scientific research related to hostas:
Don Dean talked about techniques, goals, and results in hybridizing:
Dave Collura showed how to construct rock gardens and plants to put in them:
Mark Zilis continued his series on history of hostas, AHS, and notable people of the hosta world:
News
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October 12, 2025
ROHS fall meeting at the Iowa Arboretum and Gardens
After the customary potluck lunch, Danny Lawson (editor of the AHS journal) gave a photo tour of the various AHS national display gardens that he has visited recently.
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Attendees viewed the recently installed plaque designating the AHS National Display Garden at IAG.
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News
​August 10-17, 2025
Iowa State Fair
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Several members of ROHS entered leaves in the fair's hosta leaf show. Many of their entries garnered ribbons!
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June 19-21, 2025 Several members of ROHS attended the AHS national convention in East Peoria, IL. Educational sessions, hosta sales, a leaf show, and garden tours created a busy convention!
Greetings from Hornbaker Gardens, the first garden visit of the 2025 AHS convention!
Several wonderful gardens were toured, and we got to meet Bigfoot himself!
Preparing entries and checking results for the hosta leaf show:
Enjoying lunch out after a warm morning touring gardens:
News
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May 9-10, 2025
Members gave out information on ROHS at the Des Moines Botanical Gardens Spring Garden Market.
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The ROHS information booth:
