Hosta La Vista

Body Shop Botanist: Al Ritchey of Al's Auto Body & Arboretum

Only hosta people would find this perfectly normal. Pull into a working auto body shop on a back road in Walworth, Wisconsin — the smell of primer in the air, cars in the bays — and then walk around back to discover one of the most breathtaking hosta arboretums in the Midwest. That's exactly what awaits at Al's Auto Body & Arboretum (hostafest.net [https://www.hostafest.net]), where owner and self-described "owner, operator, weeder, waterer, planter, potter, and slug-slayer" Al Ritchey has spent over three decades quietly building a five-acre hosta paradise beneath a canopy of oak, hickory, and walnut trees. This might be our quirkiest episode yet — and that is really saying something for a hosta podcast. But here's the thing: this is exactly what hosta people do. They carve out a niche in the most unlikely of places, and before you know it, 500+ varieties are growing behind the shop and Master Gardeners are busing in from across the region. Al is a natural conversationalist with a great story — a lifelong car guy who started planting hostas in 1991 just to landscape around his shop, and never stopped. Today, he calls the arboretum his therapy: "If I get frustrated in the shop, I take it out on the weeds." His first introduction, Compadre, mutated from the Emerald Tiara family over 20 years ago after contact with a pre-emergent herbicide. Al watched it carefully for years to make sure it held true, and named it Compadre — a "friendship plant" — before finally releasing it for sale. He waited nearly 20 years to introduce it, which tells you everything you need to know about this man's patience and his standards. But the showstopper? Burlesque — a sport of the beloved Strip Tease hosta, and Al's most spectacular introduction yet. Worth serious money in the hosta world, Burlesque cannot be tissue cultured, which means the only people who own it got it directly from Al himself. This is a collector's plant, full stop. If you're anywhere near the Lake Geneva area this spring, mark your calendar: Hosta Fest 2025 — celebrating 25 years — runs May 24–25 from 9am–5pm, May 26 (Memorial Day) from 9am–2pm, and May 31 & June 1 from 9am–5pm. Admission and parking are free, and there are over 450 hosta varieties on display with at least 175 for sale, including large specimen plants. No one leaves empty-handed. 📍 Al's Auto Body & Arboretum | W6866 N Walworth Rd, Walworth, WI | hostafest.net [https://www.hostafest.net] | (262) 275-2800

The Ultimate Hosta Weekend? Doug Beilstein on World Cup, Road Rage & the 2026 American Hosta Society Ohio Convention

Welcome to a special midweek episode of Hosta La Vista for hosta lovers, shade gardeners, perennial enthusiasts, plant parents, cut flower fans, and anyone who finds joy in beautiful gardens. The countdown is on for the upcoming American Hosta Society Ohio Convention happening June 11–13 in Dublin, Ohio, and we’re joined by longtime hosta enthusiast, hybridizer, and organizing committee member Doug Beilstein to share an insider preview of one of the gardening world’s most anticipated summer weekends. Still on the fence about attending? This episode might convince you to go. Doug gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what’s coming, including 14 spectacular tour gardens filled with inspiration for hosta lovers, shade gardeners, perennial collectors, landscape enthusiasts, and anyone who loves seeing how passionate gardeners design their spaces. If you enjoy garden tours, open gardens, botanical travel, or finding new ideas for your own yard, these gardens alone are worth the trip. We also talk about one of the weekend’s biggest highlights: the Thursday night BBQ at the home of Jeanne and Dick Barbee—a gathering full of plants, stories, friendship, and the kind of garden magic that happens when passionate plant people get together. But this episode goes far beyond the convention. Doug shares stories from his fascinating journey in horticulture, including starting a blueberry farm with his brother, meeting icons, and becoming one of the hobby’s respected hybridizers. We talk about some of his many hosta introductions over the years, including favorites like World Cup, Cup of Grace, Leapin’ Lizard, and Road Rage, along with the stories and inspiration behind them. Gardeners, perennial lovers, and plant geeks alike will enjoy Doug’s insights into plant breeding, hybridizing, and what it takes to create memorable plants that stand the test of time in real gardens. Doug also reflects on his memories of legendary hosta figures, including Mary Chastain of Lakeside Hostas, Van Wade and shares stories about the friendships and experiences that shaped his gardening life. Whether you grow hostas, perennials, cut flowers, cottage garden favorites, or simply love listening to gardening podcasts while working in the yard, this episode is packed with garden stories, plant inspiration, and plenty of laughs. In this episode: • A preview of the 2026 Ohio Hosta Convention in Dublin, Ohio • Details on 14 inspiring tour gardens • The Thursday BBQ at Jeanne & Dick Barbee’s home • Stories behind famous hosta introductions like World Cup and Road Rage • Conversations about hybridizing, perennial gardening, and shade plants • Doug’s blueberry farm beginnings, naming hostas • Memories of hosta history and the people who shaped the hobby Love hostas, shade gardening, perennial gardening, cut flower gardens, plant collecting, flower farming, horticulture, or garden travel? You’re in the right place. Still thinking about attending? Registration is open now at hostaconvention.org [https://hostaconvention.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]. Follow Hosta La Vista so you never miss an episode featuring hosta growers, hybridizers, garden personalities, and the joy of building a beautiful garden. Visit our website at hostalavista.org [https://www.hostalavista.org]

Bob Solberg of Green Hill Hostas | The Man Who Created the Hostas Everyone Grows Hybridizing Guacamole, Curly Fries & the Future of Hosta Breeding

If you've ever grown Guacamole, Curly Fries, or First Frost, you've already met Bob Solberg's work. In this Season 2 premiere of Hosta La Vista, we sit down with the legendary hybridizer behind Green Hill Hostas — a nursery that grew from a backyard passion project into one of the most respected names in hosta breeding worldwide. Bob has introduced around 100 hosta cultivars to the market over his career, and he's still as excited about the future of hostas as ever. In this conversation he shares what the hybridizing process actually looks like, the story behind some of his most beloved varieties, his friendship with fellow hosta legend Loleta Powell, and what he thinks the next generation of growers needs to know. Whether you're a seasoned collector, a new plant parent who just fell down the hosta rabbit hole or curious about starting your own breeding program — there's something here for you. Topics covered: * How Bob Solberg hybridizes hostas and what he looks for in a new cultivar * The stories behind Guacamole, Curly Fries, and First Frost * How Green Hill Hostas grew from backyard to global nursery * Bob's friendship with Loleta Powell * What's next for hosta breeding — and why the best may be yet to come * Advice for new and younger growers getting into hostas Follow or subscribe on Spotify, Youtube or Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode, and share with a fellow plant lover to help us grow. Find us on Instagram and Facebook at hosta la vista podcast. Drop us a comment, say hello, and let us know what you'd like to hear next. Remember, you can always email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com [hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com].

We're Back! Hosta Vista Podcast Season 2 Premieres May 9th

Hosta Vista Podcast — Season 2 premieres MAY 9TH! Every Saturday all summer long, your favorite hosta and gardening podcast is back with new episodes featuring plant experts, nursery owners, landscape designers, and disease specialists. If you're a plant parent who started with a monstera and is ready to take your passion from indoor to outdoor, this is your next obsession. Hostas are the ultimate shade garden plant — and we have the experts to prove it. Season 2 guests include hosta expert Bob Solberg, Christina Brinkmann, Al Ritchey, and Dr. Warren Pollock — plus convention coverage, storytellers, and so much more. We can't wait for you to hear it all. Whether you're a beginner gardener or a seasoned hosta collector, there's something here for every plant lover. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode — just hit the + (follow) button in the corner to get notified the moment new episodes drop. Find Hosta Vista Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Threads. Questions? Email us at HostalaVistapodcast@gmail.com [HostalaVistapodcast@gmail.com] Music by Tomasz Redman

Hosta La Vista is Back | Season 2 Preview & What's Coming This Spring

We know January can feel like the longest month in the garden calendar — so consider this your little dose of green in the grey. Betsy and Mandy are back with a Season 2 preview episode of Hosta La Vista: The Friendship Plant Podcast, and we have a lot to look forward to together. We're hard at work planning a season we think you're really going to love — new guests, new gardens, new stories, and the same love for hostas and friendship that brought us all together in the first place. Season 2 kicks off May 9th with legendary hosta hybridizer Bob Solberg of Green Hill Hostas. Bob has introduced around 100 cultivars to the market including Guacamole, Curly Fries, and Cracker Crumbs — so if you've ever wondered who's responsible for naming hostas after your snack cabinet, we found him. He was doing food-named plants before it was cool. If you're planning to attend the Midwest Regional Hosta Society Convention in Madison, Wisconsin this July, come find us — Betsy and Mandy will both be there and would love to meet you in person. While you wait for May, catch up on all of Season 1 — every episode is available now wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so Season 2 finds you the moment it drops. Got questions or just want to say hello? Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com [hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com], or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast. See you in May — we cannot wait. Betsy and Mandy