Resources
Peoria-area Hosta Retailers
This space is reserved for advertising those local businesses that contribute items to the CIHS auction and/or advertise in our printed newsletter.
Hornbaker Gardens - Rural Princeton, Illinois
Hosta-related Web Sites
American Hosta Society - Contrary to its name, the American Hosta Society (AHS) includes members from Canada, several European countries, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
The AHS sponsors an annual convention, which is hosted by a local society. This convention typically goes all out with an abundance of gardens, vendors, excitement, and loads of attendees converging from far away places.
Join the AHS and receive three issues of The Hosta Journal per year, two print versions and one online version. These publications offer the latest information on care, feeding, and hybridizing; pictures of new cultivars; and news of upcoming meetings and conventions. These very professional-looking publications are considered the standard by which all other plant societies' publications are judged and are absolutely more than worth the price of membership.
Other membership benefits include: the privilege of visiting display gardens throughout the country, some of which are only open to AHS members; a biennial AHS Membership Directory; and access to the 'Members Only' section of the AHS website. For anyone interested in hostas, membership in the AHS is highly recommended.
Midwest Regional Hosta Society - The Midwest Regional Hosta Society (MRHS) is considered Region 5 of the American Hosta Society and encompasses the nine Midwestern states of Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Within the Midwest Region are 19 local societies.
The MRHS's two main annual events are The MRHS Winter Symposium and the MRHS Convention.
The MRHS Winter Symposium is held every February in the Milwaukee area. This one-day event features an assortment of speakers that present the latest information pertaining to hostas and other gardening topics of interest.
In the summer, an annual convention, hosted by a local society or local individuals, is held in different locations throughout the region. This three-day extravaganza features garden tours, a show of hosta leaves and containerized plants, vendors selling the newest in hosta plants, an auction, a banquet, and an informational speaker.
Membership includes two issues per year of the society's newsletter, 'The Hosta Leaves'. This publication reports on society events, and provides information pertaining to hostas in general. The spring issue focuses on The MRHS Winter Symposium presentations. The fall issue focuses on the annual convention and each of the featured gardens.
Central Illinois Hosta Society - The Central Illinois Hosta Society (CIHS) conducts monthly meetings from March through August followed by a season-ending banquet in September.
After an early season potluck dinner, the monthly gatherings during the summer are held at members' gardens with programs covering various educational topics conducted by members and guest speakers.
As fund raisers, CIHS hosts garden walks open to the public, plant sales, plant auctions, and an annual bus trip featuring arboretums, nurseries, and/or private gardens outside the Peoria area.
Membership includes eight informative newsletters that arrive from March through October and reduced prices at several local hosta retailers.