In 2004, Rick and Barbara Schroeder sent letters to members of the American Hosta Society asking them if they were interested in starting a local hosta society. 18 members joined the Schroeder’s in June for the first of two organizational meetings at which the bylaws were written, officers were elected, and plans for a newsletter were made. In August, 2004, the society was opened to all
people int
erested in hosta in the surrounding area. In the first five months, the society grew to over 50 members. In 2010, IPHS partnered with the University of Illinois to create a hosta display area in the U of I Arboretum. In the fall of 2010, IPHS members prepared beds; planting began the spring of 2011. The current garden contains over 175 hosta cultivars and more than 130 companion plants. Many of the hosta located in the Hosta Garden at the Arboretum came from original stock donated either by the hybridizer or by IPHS members who had purchased from the hybridizer. Companion plants were donated both by the Arboretum, and by IPHS members. Additional important contributors to the garden include Mark Zilis (M.S. Horticulture [1979], University of Illinois), who currently specializes in hosta tissue cultivars. Meyer, Jr., using H. 'Helen Doriot' to successfully remove part of the flower bud to tissue culture hosta for the first time. Mark also helped us complete our collection of HOY (Hosta of the Year), an award given by members of the American Hosta Growers Association (AHGA) to recoognize the hosta which grows well in all regions of the country, is widely available in sufficient supply, and retails for about $15.00 in the year of selection. Van Wade, Randy Goodwin, and Bob Solberg are other hosta nurserymen who gave generously of the hosta in their nurseries.
