The history of the Indianapolis Hosta Society
has been an exciting one! In 1986 Marge Soules, an American
Hosta Society (AHS) board member, received a decision from
the AHS to hold its 1989 National Convention in Indianapolis.
Soules Garden, a retail hosta and daylily nursery in Indianapolis,
provided a list of prospective members for a local society
in Indianapolis. Eight hosta enthusiasts gathered in September
of 1986, formally organized, and began to prepare for the
upcoming convention. Two of those original eight members
continue as active members of the organization.
Three years after its inception, the Indianapolis Hosta Society
successfully hosted the AHS National Convention and experienced
a subsequent increase in enthusiastic members. In 1990 we published
our first newsletter; organized our first bus trip; and offered
our first Society Plant-H. 'Great Expectations'-- for members
to purchase. That year we also added two new programs to the
yearly schedule--a fall awards banquet and a Christmas party.
All of these activities continue as integral parts of each year's
program.
Between 1991 and 1997 we continued to grow
in membership and activities: 1991 marked our first Cut Leaf
Show (now called a Hosta Show); we helped to form the AHS
Great Lakes Region in 1992 and continue to play a key role
in that group's Hosta College held each March in Piqua, Ohio.
In 1996 we began community service garden projects at both
Garfield Park and the Indianapolis Museum of Art; and in
1997 the society hosted its second AHS National Convention
with the theme "Back Home Again, Indiana."
From 1998 to the present, we maintained a full-year program of meetings and activities. We have added an annual workday at our hoop house on Dogwood Farm in Parke County, expanded our society plant offerings to members each year, and usually held two plant sales each summer. Members tour gardens of other members and in surrounding states during the summer months. The society has completed display gardens at the James Whitcomb Riley home in Greenfield and Garfield Park in Indianapolis, as well as continuing maintenance of two shade beds at Holliday Park where we hold our regular meetings.
Twenty years after its birth, the Indianapolis Hosta Society welcomed our third AHS National Convention back to Indianapolis in June 2007. The future promises to be a time of valuing our past successes and looking forward to even more exciting opportunities for this enthusiastic and friendly group of shade gardeners.
