James and Jill Schultz

Welcome to the Schultz Garden. As new members of the Minnesota Hosta Society, we are pleased to have you and hope you enjoy your visit to our modest garden.  

Our property, located along the Rum River, consists of three distinct levels with the house on the upper level. We moved into our home in 1996, attracted by its wooded lot, privacy, and river location.

The previous home owners, having spent a great deal of time gardening, left us with a landscape consisting primarily of H. Undulata Erromena and Ostrich ferns which we enjoyed. In addition to hostas and ferns, we were also left with an abundance of stinging nettle which we continue to carefully pull out in a seemingly never-ending battle. Let’s just say, we would be wealthy if someone could develop a way to turn those weeds into ethanol. The goal is to remove it all and replace with more ferns and a variety of hostas. 

Since 1996, we have moved some of the existing ferns and sometimes they outwardly move themselves. We have begun to add to our desired variety of hostas. Now reaching 95, with a goal of 100 in mind, we might have to reassess our goal after learning some persons (gardens contain) have 600 varieties.

We continually relocate our hostas in an effort to make each plant slightly different from its neighbors. You may see two or three of the same varieties near each other, but they will eventually be separated and placed in different locations. Labels identify some of our plants, but where two of the same varieties exist in multiple locations, they usually are identified in only one. The labels themselves are a unique creation of our own based on a copy of what we observed at Bailey’s Nursery.  

In addition to hostas and ferns, you will notice other plants, grasses, bushes and even a pet rock, as well as lots of green turf grass which we have had no intention of ever replacing…hmmm, another goal reassessment. New gardens are being developed, so for sure you will see some “young” hostas which should be beautiful in a few years.

We are aware there is much more for us to accomplish than what we have already been able to do. We would like to learn from our garden guests and therefore a suggestion box is welcoming your ideas. In addition, next to the refreshments, you will find a few plant labels which have lost their home. Since we are not sure where they belong, we’d appreciate anyone’s help in placing them back to their proper locations.

Enjoy your day!