I sometimes come across questions on the pronunciation or meanings of Japanese hosta names.  I wanted to put together something that people with questions can refer to.  I also enjoy taking hosta pictures and wanted to share my pictures with other people.  So that's how I started this web page.

The title, Giboshi arekore, means "Hosta This and That" in Japanese.  I'd like to give you a quick lesson in Japanese -- how to pronounce Japanese words, what some words in hosta names mean, alternate spellings, etc.  Please refer to the page A Little About Japanese Hosta Names for my Japanese crash course.

We have lots of trees around our house.  Not many plants do well in the shade under these trees.  After many years of trial and error, I have found that hostas are one of the few plants that, not only survive, but look nice in my garden, and I started to gather information about hostas.  The more I learn about these plants, the more they attract me.  They come in many shapes, colors, texture and sizes.  They are very versatile and tough plants, too.  Please see my collection at My Hosta List page.

I got my first hosta seeds from an Internet friend back in 2000.  "Growing hostas from seeds" immediately became my winter project.  I found it easy and lots of fun.  Most of all, caring hosta babies is good for mental health during the cold, and gloomy winter.  I will show you how to start and what to (and not to) expect from hosta seeds on my page Care for Growing Hosta Babies?  Please also visit My Hosta Babies Photo Album and see some of my seedling pictures.  You will understand why it is fun to grow hostas from seeds.

While I grow seedlings, I find some of them nice and a little different from others.  I thought I might show them off a little, and, therefore, added some sport and seedling photos to "Other" of My Hosta List as a new addition for 2008.

Through correspondence with my friends in Japan, I have realized that Japanese people treat hostas quite differently from the way we do.  I added Hosta vs Giboshi - Are they the same? in 2005.  Please visit this page and find out the "Giboshi" facts if you haven't.  Hosta Recipe was added new in 2008. I hope you will find this page interesting.

I try to update my hosta list and photos in My Hosta List at the beginning of every month during the season.  New photos are included in the Slide Show I.  I am currently working on a new addition "Slide Show II." I will collect my favorite photos and show them in a slide show. I hope to complete it in the near future.  Please don't forget to check out My Favorite Links, too.

I hope you will enjoy browsing through my pages.