Herb The Hosta Travel Bug

While on vacation with some friends in Texas, I got separated and missed the plane back home to Michigan. But since I'm retired now, I'm really in no hurry to get home. I just have to make it to the Indianapolis, Indiana area by the first of June 2007, so I can be at the National Hosta Convention that is being held there. I am a featured guest at the event! In the meantime, I want to tour the country and visit as many gardens, plant nurseries and arboretums as possible. I would like to keep a travel log (just add your comments to the notebook I am traveling with) and a photo album of my journey. Please take pictures of me with plants (preferably hostas) and add them to my photo gallery. Be sure and include your comments and note the specific variety of any hostas (if you know) shown in the photo. To spread my love of hostas, I will be adding special tasks and challenges every so often. The first person to successfully fulfill the requirements will receive a hosta from my garden.

Hi there, my name is Herb. When I retired from being a vet, I needed a hobby, so I started growing hostas in my backyard. Before I knew it, I had several hundred different kinds of hostas. I even started raising and naming new hostas of my very own. Did you know there are actually over 4,000 different varieties of hostas? Don't believe me? Just check out the Hosta Library on the Internet and see for yourself. If you haven't guessed by now, I've really caught the hosta bug. When I'm not working in my own gardens, I'm traveling across the country visiting other peoples' gardens to see their hostas. In the picture to the right, I'm shown in a trough garden with a couple of unusual small hostas H. 'Blue Mouse Ears' and H. 'Peedee Hot Flash'.

FIRST CHALLENGE: My first name is Herb, what is my last name? I was named after a real person. There are clues to my identity above. The first person to email a correct answer, along with their shipping address will get a hosta sent to them.