The Eastern Michigan Hosta Society meets in the Lapeer area.
Feb. 18 - Season opener with Jan Everson and highlights of the 2009 National Convention.
April 8 - Japanese Maple Grafting Session. Hands on, rootstock and materials provided at cost. Presentation and assistance with grafting your own tree by Glen Pace. Grafting kits will be available for about $5. Please make reservations with Glen.
May 13 - Photographing your Hosta and Garden. Speaker- William Dwyer at the Hanners’.
May 15 - Photography Practice Session with William Dwyer.
July and August 2010 - Meetings held at EMHS members homes. Tour members gardens.
EMHS is planning an overnight bus trip to mid-Ohio, to include visits to Wade & Gatton Nursery (Bellville), Cahoon’s Nursery (Cleveland), and possibly two private gardens that were on the AHS Convention tour in recent years.

The Metro Detroit Hosta Society meetings are usually held the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00PM.  Meetings are held at the First United Methodist Church, 1589 W. Maple Rd. (15 Mile), Birmingham.
Jan. 25 - “Preparing the Garden for Spring”, guest speaker from English Gardens
Feb. 22 - The guest speaker will be from Wild Birds “Attracting Birds to Your Garden”
March 22 - Ann Hancock from the MSU Perennial Gardens will speak on “Vines and Their Uses in the Garden”.
April 26 - George Papadelis will tell us all about “What’s New for 2010”. The meeting will be held at Telly’s Greenhouse at 7:30 PM with shopping time from 6:30 till 7:30 PM.
May 15 - Annual plant sale 10 AM to 2:00 PM

Saginaw Valley Hosta Society meetings are held at the Rustic Inn, St. Charles at 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted.
Feb. 17 - John Dusek will speak on “Bees and the Honey Trail”. The schedule for the additional spring meetings is being finalized and will be available after Feb. 1.

The Southwestern Michigan Hosta Society meets in the Kalamazoo area.

The West Michigan Hosta Society meets in the Grand Rapids area.
2010 coming events:
Feb. 18 -Spring membership meeting 7:00 PM
March 19&20 - Hosta College
April 10 - Workshop 9-12 am
May 20 - Potluck and auction 6-9PM
May 26 or 27 - Spring planting at Meijer Gardens
June 23-26 - AHS Convention
July 17 - Bus trip to Twin Lakes and the Muskegon area
Aug 19 - Fall membership meeting 7PM
Dates, times and locations are subject to change.

Editor’s Note: I have been asked a number of times about the relationship of the local hosta societies and the Michigan Hosta Society. A little history is perhaps the easiest way to answer most of those questions. In the mid-90’s MHS held a meeting to discuss the feasibility of sponsoring or helping in the establishment of some local societies around the state. There was a growing need for a way to get more information about hostas out to the increasing number of gardeners who were growing hostas. MHS had tried winter meetings but because of the long distances involved the meetings had to be on weekends; that and the winter weather often made them poorly attended. The establishment of some local chapters seemed to be the best way to meet the needs of our members.
As the result of the initial meeting, members of six areas in the state said they were going to look into starting a local group. Some of those groups were immediately formed; others have happened in the intervening years. All of the groups are financially independent and operated under their own bylaws. Membership in MHS as well as the local group is encouraged but not mandatory.

For information on the local societies or the Michigan Hosta Society contact: MHS@hostahappenings.com