Most hosta enthusiasts dream of visiting a few great gardens. Danny Lawson of Wichita, Kansas visited every single AHS sanctioned hosta display garden in the United States and Canada. Every. Single. One. And we caught him just before he crossed the finish line.

Danny is the Editor of The Hosta Journal, President of the Wichita Hosta Society, and one of the most quietly respected voices in the American hosta community. He was also instrumental in bringing the AHS display hosta garden to Botanica — Wichita's beloved botanical garden — putting his hometown firmly on the national hosta map.

In this conversation we dig into his journey from curious collector to seasoned curator, what goes into producing one of the most respected plant publications in the hobby, his favorite cultivars, and the stories and friendships built across a lifetime of visiting the finest hosta gardens in North America.

We also play our signature Finish the Rhyme challenge and a This or That segment — because even the most serious hosta people know how to have fun.

Topics covered:

• Visiting every AHS sanctioned hosta display garden in the US and Canada
• The AHS hosta garden at Botanica in Wichita, Kansas
• Editing The Hosta Journal — behind the scenes of a world class plant publication
• The Wichita Hosta Society and shade gardening in the Great Plains
• Favorite hosta cultivars and what makes a standout shade garden
• Building community through the American Hosta Society display garden program

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