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THE EARLY HOSTA YEARS
The National Hosta Society had it’s early beginnings
right here in the River City “OMAHA”. Three Omaha ladies Julia Geissler,
Maxine Armstrong and Minnie Klopping along with Eldron Minks of Minnesota
and Alex Summers of Delaware began the National Hosta Society around the
year 1969.
REBIRTH OF THE LOCAL SOCIETY IN 1991
A meeting was hosted and organized by Jane Diesen on
September 17, 1991, in her home in Plattsmouth, Nebraska with an open
invitation to Omaha and surrounding area Hosta enthusiasts. Ten people were
present. The organization name was decided as “Shady Choice Hosta
Society”. The organization was informal with Jane Diesen as the coordinator
“Chairperson”.
CHARTER MEMBERS:
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Bernie & Jane Diesen |
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Gale Livezey |
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Marilynn Harrington |
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John Randall |
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Nancy Scott |
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Linda Brown |
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Mike & Laura Render |
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Marty & Gary Hicks |
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Pat & Dean Drickey |
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST YEARS
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First plant sale (sharing space with Omaha Iris
Society) at the Southroads Mall on July 20, 1992 brought in $268.00. This
became a tradition in the years to follow.
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Visits to fellow Hosta Society member gardens soon
became a tradition for summer garden tours.
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The Omaha Botanical Gardens “SHADE GARDEN” was
started by Shady Choice Hosta Society in September 1994. Plants, donated
and planted by club members, soon filled the garden to overflowing by days
end. The garden included benches donated by Dean & Pat Drickey. Phase II
planting expanded the shade gardens in the Spring of 1995.
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The Shady Choice Hosta Society hosted the 1998
Midwest Regional Hosta Convention at the Holiday Inn Central – July 10, 11
& 12, 1998. The theme was “Nebraska: On The Map Again” The convention
included local Garden Tours, Cut Leaf Show, Educational Seminars, Hosta
Plant Auction and a Pig Roast at the Hancock farm. Thanks to the
membership and the hard work coordinated by Lynn Hansen, this first for
Omaha was a great success.
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Annual Meetings to close each season were
traditionally held at LandMark Gardens (Bernie & Jane’s) in September. |
PAST PRESIDENTS
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