Welcome to the 2025 American Hosta Society’s Online Auction. Proceeds from the auction help to support the AHS member publication, The Hosta Journal.
The 2025 online auction will take on a different format than previous years. Please read the following information carefully!
Three Session Format
The format for the auction this year is a ‘silent auction’ divided into three sessions, each with approximately the same number of lots/items. The three sessions begin simultaneously on Sunday, January 26 at 12:00 noon and run until Sunday, February 2. Bidding on all items in a given session closes at the same time. To facilitate subsequent bidding after Session 1 ends (for example, should a bidder not win a desired item), Session 2 will end 30 minutes after Session 1. Similarly, Session 3 will end 30 minutes after Session 2.
The Auction Platform
After the 2024 convention in Massachusetts last summer we started looking for a new host with auction software that would both improve our revenue and be easy to use. We found a promising package that met that need from Zeffy, and while the software is still in its early stages their team seems eager to enhance the features based on user experience.
Registering to Bid
On January 26, 2025 at 12:00 noon EST, three links will be added to this webpage. By clicking a link a bidder will be directed to the specific session of our auction.
Step 1 – Initial Bidding. Bid on one or more items on the session page. Each item is pictured and described with the bidding box on the upper right. Based on the increment set for the item, the next highest bid amount is suggested, but you can enter as much as you like. Browse through the items and enter your bids.
WARNING – in true “silent auction” format, the amount you enter here becomes the current bid.
Step 2 – Zeffy Support. Consider Zeffy’s appeal for a donation. At the bottom of the items page you’ll see a message from Zeffy appealing for a donation. This is how Zeffy stays in business, not by deducting from your bid and reducing the amount paid to AHS but by asking you for a voluntary contribution like Wikipedia does. Please be generous to Zeffy. Support is entered as a percentage of a winning bid.
When you are finished with Step 1 and Step 2, click NEXT to open the Buyer Details and Payment Method screen.
Step 3 – Buyer Details and Payment Method. Fill out the form with all required information. Click CONFIRM. Zeffy will send you a confirmation e-mail. It contains a ‘check back HERE’ link to facilitate continued participation in the auction. Re-entering the auction via Zeffy’s link ensures its system recognizes you as a registered bidder.
You must register once for each session for which you have interest in an offered item.
Ongoing Bidding
Zeffy will notify you throughout the auction if you are outbid. The notice will include the ‘check back HERE’ link to allow you to raise your bid.
Once the auction starts, new listings may appear until Thursday evening on January 30.
End of Auction
At the end of the auction your credit card will be charged and you will receive an email regarding your winning bids.
The AHS auction administrator will provide the item donor with the winning bidder’s name and address for shipping. If there are any problems the auction administrator will coordinate the communication between the donor and the winner.
ADDING an item (plant or otherwise) will be done by the Auction Administrator. You will not be able to submit an item yourself due to changes in the software being used. To donate an item, send an email to Tom Voystock at ahsonlineauction@gmail.com. Entitle ALL correspondence “AHS Online Auction” in the subject bar to ensure that your mail does not get lost in the spam! Include a title and brief paragraph describing your donation. Check out this model for ideas.
Plant name (hybridizer, year or NR) description stating general clump shape and size, leaf, and any history or outstanding characteristics making it something to be coveted; amount or size of the division to be sent; when able to send; any terms (if any).
Example:
H. ‘My Prize’ (Dean, NR – pending) This compact, vase shaped mounding plant has both gold and gray-green streaks on an intense blue, round, puckered leaf. This makes a small to medium, vigorous grower. Easily fertile with an incredible pedigree [(Dorset Clown) x Sun Power] x Salute! Imagine the next generation! A mature OS division will be sent. Fall or spring delivery is available.
PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES are crucial for most of this type of plant to gain the attention they warrant. Take one and send it along with your commitment to donate a plant. We can work with digital images, preferably jpg format, sent via Email.
Tom Voystock
AHS On-line Auction Coordinator
774-766-7136
ahsonlineauction@gmail.com
All plants you have enjoyed will probably strike a spark of interest in someone else’s mind. Highly coveted, rare, hard to find, good breeding stock, and new breeders from your breeding program are being sought. Originator stock of plants often bring a good bid. Consider collections of plants with a theme: ‘Moon,’ ‘Tiaras,’ gold centered, from a particular hybridizer, plants which you think make a good group planting, etc.
Donor portion of auction rules:
DONATIONS … Donations will be accepted up to 72 hours prior to the close of auction. Donations may be added to the items available list throughout the duration of the auction. Bidders will need to keep visiting the site for the latest listings. DONORS … Donors are responsible for shipping the plant (contiguous states, U.S.A., addresses only) or delivering the plant to the next hosta society event at which both donor and high bidder will be present. This is to be arranged and agreeable by both parties.
Anything other than US-to-US delivery must be clearly noted in the item description, and unless clearly stated will be the responsibility of the winning bidder. This includes the cost of phytosanitary certificates for international shipment, as well as higher shipping costs.
Note: all bidding for each session closes on the same date and time!