Juniper Level Botanical Garden Part 2 - For the Hosta Lovers

The other weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Juniper Level Botanical Garden and adjacent Plant Delights Nursery in Raleigh.   One of the things they are known for is their hosta breeding program.  The gardens are filled with beautiful hostas tucked in among the other plantings. 

Everywhere I turned there was a medley of texture:

Top:  Silk Kimono, Moon River

Center: Alleghan Fog

Bottom:  Laura and Darrell (the leaves of this one were gigantic!),  Deep Blue Sea

There are many hostas with different and sometime unusually variegated leaves:

Row 1: Tambourine, Pineapple Upsidedown Cake

Row 2: Abby, Prestige and Promise 

Row 3: Earth Angel, Blazing Saddles

Row 4: Stitch in Time, Popcorn

 My favorite hostas were the little miniatures.  So cute!  Here are some closeups of those little gems:

 

Top: Cherry Tomato

Center: Little Treasure, Mighty Mouse, Snow Mouse

Bottom:  Holy Mouse Ears

There are also several different fields filled with new hosta seedlings that will be evaluated and possibly named and released for market.   Plant Delights Nursery has already produced quite a few new cultivars.

Hosta Seedling Evaluation field

Of course I could not come home without a couple hostas of my own. 

Two little Hosta 'Cameo' plants now reside in the Red House Garden, tucked into the shade garden among the impatiens.

They are little things and rather overshadowed by the impatiens, but every garden needs some secret treasures meant only for those who seek.