Join us for a one of a kind talk with horticultural legend Allen Ritchey on Thursday, May 8th at 6pm. The founder of Hosta Fest, a showcase of his evolving eden of over 450 hosta varieties, Al is speaking at Yerkes in celebration of the 25th anniversary of this fascinating festival at his arboretum and car body shop in Walworth.

From Hostafest.net:  It all began in 1991 when Al planted a few hostas to landscape around his body shop. After finishing up work in his shop, Al would go out into the Arboretum and start planting beds to blow off steam. After a few years of doing this, he had a good portion of the five-acre backyard landscaped. “The arboretum is therapy,” he said. “If I get frustrated in the shop, I take it out on the weeds.”

Al grew up on the five-acre property which sits under a mix of oak, hickory, and walnut trees providing the perfect environment for hostas to thrive.  With over seven thousand varieties registered, they leave endless possibilities for gardeners. Al has over four hundred varieties within his arboretum. Each year new species arise either from developers or natural mutations. Al’s Compadre Hosta is a plant that mutated from the Emerald Tiara family. It occurred over 20 years ago by a pre-emergent. Al watched the plant carefully for a few years and it stayed true to its look even when divided. Al registered it under the name Compadre because the hosta is a friendship plant.

Al’s Arboretum is the only arboretum outside of a municipality in Walworth County. The area of his arboretum is oddly enough a large percent of the county park space in the county. Al is happy to have this space open to the public so we can share its beauty together.

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