Mickfield Hostas: the largest National Collection of Hosta in the UK

Mickfield Hostas

Established 1981

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Monthly newsletters
Welcome to our pared down archive of newsletters, since we have been producing these since 2007 we have only listed the last few years in entirety, together with special issues.
Do let us know if you would like us to cover anything specific in our future content - your suggestions are always welcome.
The newsletter will be published on, or very near to, the first of each month and linked from our homepage.

Newsletter Archive
There is a simple chronological list and a set of subject lists you can browse:

Newsletters: chronological list of past 2 years.
All old newsletters (from 2007) can be requested in PDF form
Subject listing:

Chronological list

About us, our collection and nursery

Hosta characteristics

Our collection November 2009
Spamalot! May 2010
Our first RHS Gold Medal June 2011
Our mail order service August 2012
RHS Lindley Award for 2018 May 2019
In memory of Robin December 2019
Plant passports January 2020
26 years of exhibiting highlights, Part 1 November 2020
26 years of exhibiting highlights, Part 2 December 2020
How we became hooked on hostas March 2021
Nursery update February 2022
Projects update November 2023
Arboretum planting April 2024

Care, cultivation and advice

Extending your hosta season - August 2024
Companion planting for Hosta health - March 2024
Pest control tips - September 2024
Pest control revisited - April 2020
Pests - December 2008
Pest control over winter - December 2023
What to do about slugs and snails February 2007
Cultivation special October 2020
Dividing hostas April 2022
Garden design: lessons learned February 2022
Garden design: starting points January 2022
Over-wintering hosta October 2021
Hosta in hanging baskets May 2020
The importance of light levels December 2016
Hosta hardiness December 2010
Propagation methods December 2009
Starting a collection of hosta March 2009
Bonsai-ing hosta July 2008
Hosta virus X (HVX) November 2008
Our 'top ten' classic hosta March 2008

Classification, species and related matters

Identifying Hostas Part 1 September 2022
Identifying Hostas Part 2
October 2022
Identifying Hostas Part 3 November 2022
Identifying Hostas Part 4
January 2023
Identifying Hostas Part 5
February 2023
Identifying Hostas Part 6
June 2023
Species and cultivars March 2007
Size classification November 2007
Miniatures: size guide November 2010
Award of Garden Merit (AGM) classification December 2017
Species nomenclature January 2011
Disputed species February 2011

Notes from Maine

Introducing Lenore and Tom Tipping May 2021
Hosta flowers August 2021
Over-wintering hostas in Maine October 2021
Lenore's review of 2021 December 2021
Lenore's garden design process February 2022
Late emerging hostas 2022 June
AHS Convention 2022 August 2022
Celebrating older cultivars and their value in the garden - December 2022
Looking forward to spring - March 2023
Lenore's choice cultivars - May 2023
Lenore reports on the 2023 AHS Convention - July 2023
A pesky year - December 2023
Dreaming of hostas - February 2024
Tree damage - April 2024
New fences - June 2024
MHS Auction Event - August 2024
Highlights of 2024 - October 2024
Lenore's garden - July 2025

Seasonal leaf colour changes December 2007
Viridescent varieties July 2009
Tetraploids September 2010
Red-stemmed varieties April 2011
Fragrant hosta July 2011
Lutescence and albescence in hosta March 2012
Hosta names February 2013
Hosta flowers - July 2014
Hosta flowers - August 2021
Hosta flowers - July 2022
Best gold and yellow-leaved varieties March 2015
Best chartreuse to mid-green varieties April 2015
Best dark green varieties May 2015
Best blue varieties June 2015
Best green and white varieties July 2015
Best fragrant varieties August 2015
Best textured varieties September 2015
Best blue variegated varieties November 2015
Glorious spring shoots April 2023
Hosta sporting July 2024
Great Growers December 2024
Great Growers January 2025
Great Growers February 2025
Great Growers March 2025
Great Growers April 2025
Great Growers May 2025
Great Growers June 2025

Special cultivar/species issues

Eric Smith: Tardiana Group October 2022
H. 'Gold Standard' April 2008
H. 'Sum and Substance' May 2008
H. 'Tokudama' June 2008
H. plantaginea August 2008
H. venusta September 2008
H. 'Dorothy Benedict' (part 1) April 2009
H. 'Frances Williams' (part 2) May 2009
H. 'Elegans' (part 3) June 2009
H. 'Dorothy Bendict' (part 4) August 2009
H. 'Sagae' March 2010
H. montana (Part 1) April 2010
H. montana (Part 2) May 2010
H. sieboldiana July 2010
Tiara series August 2010
H. montana update June 2011
H. 'Francee' August 2011
H. 'Gold Edger' September 2011
H. 'Paul's Glory'December 2011
H. 'Paul's Glory' revisited February 2018
H. 'Krossa Regal' February 2012
H. 'Golden Meadows' April 2012
H. 'Guardian Angel' April 2012
H. 'Northern Halo' May 2012
H. 'Fragrant Bouquet' June 2012
H. 'Invincible' August 2012
H. 'Little Aurora' September 2012
H. 'Vanilla Cream'October 2012
H. nigrescens December 2012
The 'Lakeside' series March 2013
The 'Academy' series April 2013
The 'Kiwi' series June 2013
Suffolk introductions September 2013
H. 'Fortunei' November 2013
H. 'Fortunei offspring December 2013
H. 'Fortunei Hyacinthina' March 2014
The 'Sea' series May 2014
H. hypoleuca December 2014
H. 'Gold Drop' January 2015
H. 'Neptune' January 2018
H. 'Fortunei Albopicta' March 2018
H. 'Orange Marmalade' April 2018
H. 'Niagara Falls' February 2019
H. 'Katie Q' March 2019
H. pycnophylla February 2020

Plant Heritage

Plant Heritage (NCCPG) March 2008
Our PH display at Hampton 2010 July 2010
Our PH display at Hampton 2013 2013 July
Working with Plant Heritage October 2019

Last updated: 1/7/2025