The American Hosta Society would again like to honor, for their distinguished service, those members of local Hosta Societies who have for years been the backbone of their local group. Last year was the first time I asked local societies to nominate members for this award, and I have to admit to several teething problems in my system. I am determined to do better this year.  

The letter again asks local Societies to nominate two such people before the 1st of April this year. Last year it quickly became obvious that we were going to be unable to include all the wonderful things said about the person nominated on the certificate sent to local societies. The certificate is merely an expression of appreciation – the kind words of thanks will need to be said locally.

By now, all but one Society will have received signed certificates on parchment for each of the members they nominated and the names of those people appear on a brick in the ‘President’s Wall of Honor’ that can be found on the AHS website at www.hosta.org.

Nominations can be sent to me by mail or email before April 1, 2013. The only difference in the procedure this year is a request that included with the nomination is the name and address of the person to whom the signed certificates are to be sent. They will be mailed soon after the AHS June Board meeting for local presentation.

New AHS Nematode Research Program

At the recent Fall AHS Executive Committee Board Meeting, a new foliar nematode research program was presented, proposed and approved. We might normally wait until the current HVX research project was complete to introduce a new research program. However, the feedback from both you and the AHS Board was clear - get some answers to the growing nematode problem and get them ASAP.

Letters have been sent to all local and regional hosta societies formally announcing details of the proposed research program and soliciting their financial support. We would also appreciate your individual support.

The research will be performed at The Ohio State University under the capable leadership of Dr. Parwinder Grewal. You may recall that Dr. Grewal has performed previous nematode research for the AHS. Dr. Grewal has served on the Executive Board of the Society of Nematologists and continues to be the leading foliar nematode researcher in the U.S. As we looked at Nematologists around the country to lead this effort, it became clear that Dr. Grewal was the most qualified candidate.

The proposed research will focus on the entire nematode life cycle. Most important is defining their seasonal movement both upward and downward before we begin testing and development of an integrated approach to manage foliar nematodes. Our hope is that they may in fact be much easier to treat if we know when they are on the move.

The $100,000 research program will be funded in major part by a matching grant program available from Ohio State. We hope to hear about the OSU matching grant award in early April. That still leaves $50,000 to be funded by the AHS, local/regional hosta societies, and interested individuals. The AHS approved $5000 in its 2013 budget to help fund the project. The remaining $45,000 will be a challenging amount to raise during these economic times, but hopefully achievable given the level of prior interest expressed by our membership. Since foliar nematodes (Aphelenchoides fragariae and A. ritzemabosi) are not specific to hosta alone, we are also soliciting support from related plant societies and plant trade associations.

We hope that we can fund the entire proposed scope of research. Our intent is to confirm our available funding level this spring with the research to begin shortly thereafter. We expect completion of this project within two calendar years.

You can read more about the nematode research program on the AHS website. Also included are a donation form and a copy of Dr. Grewal’s proposal.

Foliar Nematode Research Program

Thank you in advance for your support. Together, let’s beat the growing foliar nematode problem.

Rob                                                                          Contact Rob Mortko

The AHS Website – A Year In Review

The end of the year is a natural time to look back over the past twelve months. We hostaholics love to reflect on our gardens…what grew well, what challenges we faced, and what we want to change or add in the season ahead. One of my favorite things to do is look back through my photos from hosta conventions and other garden events from the season past and remember the great times I shared with hosta friends.

In between browsing hosta catalogs and dreaming of spring, here are a few interesting statistics about the AHS website from 2012.

Member Services

Best Regards to All,

Mary Ann                                                    Contact Mary Ann Metz

2013 is upon us, and the time for a new Benedict Garden Performance Award ballot is here. Randy Goodwin is sending reminders to the list of originators/hybridizers and registrants with known addresses. As we are rebuilding the address list, there may be some current addresses which are unknown to us. If you do not receive a nomination ballot, please contact Randy Goodwin or me, and we will get a nomination form to you.

Last year, because of some cloudy history with regards to whom credit should be given for the introduction of certain hosta cultivars, there was some ballot confusion. Because some felt that the Benedict Award system should be used to deny the entry for some cultivars, a committee was formed to determine, if possible, who should receive credit for these cultivars. A preliminary report has been issued, and a final report should be complete this summer. Until then, the names that were attached to these cultivars will still be used.

Judy Burns, Judges Records and Classification Chair, reports that we currently have 164 active judges. As the records were just updated, the only updates required for the next two years (per the Judges Handbook) will be for a status change. Please contact Judy with any status updates.

For active judges, the cold months of January and February are a good time to review your Judges Handbook.

Chuck                                                Contact Chuck Zdeb

The American Hosta Society (AHS) is a society dedicated to the study and improvement of the genus Hosta, and the dissemination of general and scientific knowledge about them. There are many benefits for the members that result from these efforts - both social and in nursery trade. AHS members receive several publications a year including two colorful issues of The Hosta Journal (mailed), four E-Newsletters (emailed), The Online Journal (posted on the AHS website for AHS members only). All of these publications offer articles on cultivation tips, propagation techniques, landscape uses, new cultivars and old species, pioneers and personalities, scientific advances, convention awards and gardens, and news about the AHS.

To learn more, go to http://www.americanhostasociety.org/ahsvoucherprogram.html.

To join the AHS online, go to http://www.americanhostasociety.org/ZenCart/index.php, or print the membership application and mail to the Membership Secretary listed.