Discover Hosta Farm of Mendon Past Events
Hosta Boot Camp
Hosta Bootcamp will be an educational event at the farm going over the basics of all things Hosta. Discussion includes: basic hosta care, types of hosta, spacing + inter-planting, maintenance + fertilizer, sun and soil conditions, planting, and moving hosta. This small group event provides plenty of time for questions from attendees. There will be a live demonstration of digging a mature hosta, as well as dividing and replanting said hosta. All attendees will leave with a bare root hosta.
Water Feature and Pond Build Class
Have you ever thought about wanting a water feature on your property? Are you the type of person who would rather do it yourself? Not sure where to start? If yes, this class is for you! This one-session class will cover the basic information for dreaming up, designing, installing, and maintaining your own water feature or pond. We will also cover correctly sizing the pump for the job, filtration options, and general plumbing guidance. Beyond the practical we will also discuss aesthetics, such as waterfalls vs fountains, plants both in and out of the water, and the wildlife/fish you may or may not want to be included. This small group class will provide ample time for questions.
Open House Exploration Day
Rip has decided to open the gate early this year for our first ever ‘Open House Exploration Day’ this is not a normal Hosta day. We grow our plants right here and most of them will still be “sleeping’- but we won’t turn down a sale if the urge strikes! This event is less about sales and more about an education opportunity for the community to better understand how our little ‘farm’ runs. There will be an ongoing ‘self-guided garden tour’. This is an opportunity to explore our gardens at your own pace, gain inspiration, and participate in a scavenger hunt. We will also be offering a ‘Job Shadow’ Tour throughout the day, as well as two ticketed tours; ‘Garden Walk with a Pro’ and “Behind the Scenes Nursery Tour’.
Job Shadow Tour
Our Job shadow Tour is Free of charge, and just requires a sign up. This tour will cover the basics of what it is like to work at 'The Hosta Farm' Being an almost exclusively outdoor job, with great seasonal variety, this tour is a great way to get an idea of what it's like. Wither you want to work here, or are just curious about the possibility/ viability of working in the green industry, we invite you to sign up and join us.
'Garden Walk with a Pro'
Our most popular tour, the ' Garden Walk with a Pro' is a guided tour through the gardens here at 'the Farm'. President and owner, Rip Sokol, shows the gardens he has worked on over the past 30 years, speaking to its evolution over time, changes made either by him or by nature and how the gardens continue to grow and change. See the plants we sell in action, learn about a healthy hobby, and enjoy the unique experience of getting to ask Rip questions in his favorite place, about his favorite place!
'Behind the Scene' Nursery Tour
Operation’s Manager Emily and Aquatic’s Manager Eve lead this tour providing a 'peek behind the curtain' at the nursery. This tour gives a bit more insight into the nitty-gritty of life at ‘the farm’ See our compost/soil systems. Learn how we avoid using potable water, and how exactly we water all our plants. Learn a bit about what winter looks like, and in general get a sense of our sustainability practices. This tour focuses more on the systems we have in play than the actual day to day work. (For that info see; Job Shadow Tour)