Hosta La Vista

The Cochato Way: Growing with Heart and Humor — with Chuck Doughty
In this episode, we sit down with the one and only Chuck Doughty of Cochato Nursery—longtime grower, collector, American Hosta Society President, and the man behind one of the most beautiful hosta nurseries around.

Chuck shares how a small plot of land in Massachusetts became the birthplace of Cochato, how he approaches hostas with both precision and playfulness. We talk AHS leadership, favorite seedlings, past hosta heroes, and how to keep things growing—both in the garden and in the community.

Whether you're...

This week, we sit down with Andy Marlow — longtime AHS leader, former president, and the sharp eye behind The Hosta Journal's photo editing team. From his first hosta in 1979 to decades spent shaping how we see and share these beloved plants, Andy brings insight, humor, and heart to everything he touches. Whether you're a gardener, photographer, or Society member, you'll find something to love in this wide-ranging conversation with one of the most influential figures in the hosta world.

In this episode, we dig in with Kathy Pedersen of Heavenly Hostas — grower, guide, and the heart behind one of the Midwest’s most beloved award-winning gardens. Kathy shares stories from the field, what she looks for in a great plant, and the joys of having a show garden. We also explore her life-long friendship with legendary hybridizer Hideko Gowen, and how that relationship helped shape her path in the hosta world. It’s a warm, funny, and insightful conversation you won’t want to miss.

Welcome back to a new episode of Hosta La Vista — your favorite podcast for all things green, leafy, and slightly obsessive. This week, your hosts Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson head to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to chat with Barb Rauckhorst, President of the North Coast Hosta Society and a proud Master Gardener.

Barb shares her story of falling in love with hostas, leading one of Ohio’s most active local societies, and finding purpose and joy through community gardening. We’ll talk about club events, growing membership, and what it really means to serve as a Master Garden...

This week on Hosta La Vista, we're honored to welcome Dr. Mary Albrecht, the Vice President-Genus Hosta of the American Hosta Society! Join Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson as they sit down with Dr. Albrecht to explore her journey and deep expertise within the world of hostas. Learn about her pivotal role in the AHS, her insights into the future of the "friendship plant," and the valuable contributions she's made to the Society. This episode offers a unique perspective from one of the AHS's key leaders.

As always, if you have questions or thoughts for the pod...

Get ready for a masterclass in hostas! This week on Hosta La Vista, we're absolutely thrilled to welcome the legendary Don Rawson! Sisters Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson sit down with a true titan of the hosta world – a hybridizer extraordinaire whose creations, like Betsy's personal favorite 'Alligator Rock', consistently astound. We're huge fans of Don's groundbreaking work and immensely appreciate his invaluable contributions to the Hosta Library. Tune in as Don shares stories, insights, and perhaps a few secrets from his decades of cultivating and creating hosta beauties. This is a must-listen you won't want to miss!

This week on Hosta La Vista, your favorite garden-loving hosts kick things off with a fun catch-up—sharing laughs, plant updates, and a few surprises from their own shady corners of the garden.

Then it’s time to roll out the green carpet for none other than Olga Petryszyn, legendary hosta hybridizer and a true icon in the hosta world! Olga joins us to share her passion, process, and the stories behind some of her most celebrated cultivars. From her artistic inspiration to the secrets of standout hosta breeding, this is a must-listen for hosta fanatics and gard...

In this episode of Hosta La Vista, we sit down with the one and only David Bowe — a standout hybridizer in the Hosta world whose signature style, sense of humor, and eye for the unusual have earned him a loyal following and a garden full of unforgettable plants.

David has registered over 30 hosta cultivars, many of which share his signature flair for wordplay and personality-packed names. From Summer Rainbow to Beau Brummell, Cupid's Bow to Bottle Rockets, his hybrids aren’t just beautiful — they’re memorable. In our conversation, David opens up about what it’s like to watch a...

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of Hosta La Vista — the podcast devoted to the world of Hostas and the people who love them.

We’re bringing you highlights and field reports from the American Hosta Society’s annual convention 2025, whether you were there and want to relive the magic — or missed it and need to know what went down, like me — this one’s for you.

Thanks to Alisa, Tanya and Julie for their coverage of the convention. Lots of insights, memories and takeaways.

Safe travels to all headed home today. Enjoy your new plants a...

In this episode, we’re joined by Ben Matthews, the passionate curator behind one of the UK’s most distinctive plant collections—the British National Collection of Hosta—nestled in the heart of Worcestershire, England. Ben shares the fascinating journey of how his love for this diverse and shade-loving genus grew into a nationally recognized collection.

We explore the unique challenges and joys of curating a living collection, delve into the incredible variety within the Hosta genus, and discuss what it means to steward a national plant heritage. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just discovering the charm...

This week's guest is Hosta grower, photographer and nationally recognized Hosta judge, Alisa Bowe Lenhardt. A member of the famous Bowe family, she joins us to discuss her own Hosta cultivar, being a show judge and even gives us a warning about how easy HVX can be missed.

Join us as we talk to this expert in flower arranging, getting started with Hosta and the joy of taking the art to the next level-Hosta shows!

This weekend is the annual American Hosta Society convention in Peoria, Illinois where Alisa will be a judge.

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Welcome to our first episode of Hosta la Vista! This week we introduce ourselves and give a little background on the creation of the pod. Join us as we begin this journey together.

Questions or comments? Send them to hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page. Listener questions will be answered on air. We'd love to hear from you. Stay tuned each week for new episodes. Click 'follow' or subscribe to stay up to date.

Tomasz Redman music

Get a sneak peek into Hosta la Vista, the podcast where the shade is cool and the friendships are perennial! Meet your hosts, Betsy Peterson and Mandy Olson — two Hosta-loving sisters who are here to celebrate The Friendship Plant with weekly chats, special guests, and plenty of leafy laughs. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just discovering the magic of Hostas, you’re in the right place. Subscribe and grow along with us — one episode at a time! Email us at hostalavistapodcast@gmail.com