Northern Illinois Hosta Society Home Page
The Northern Illinois Hosta Society (NIHS) was founded in October 1992 when Tom Micheletti, our first president, gathered several fellow hostaphiles together and founded the Northern Illinois Hosta Society. He remains one of the country's most knowledgeable hosta experts.
Our NIHS society's mission is dedicated to educating the public, to encourage the development of new cultivars and and promote the use of hostas in the landscape. NIHS works closely with the American Hosta Society (AHS) and the Midwest Regional Hosta Society (MRHS) planning and hosting hosta events and donating to hosta research. NIHS is a general not-for-profit organization that serves the people of Northern Illinois and surrounding areas.
Our NIHS society's mission is dedicated to educating the public, to encourage the development of new cultivars and and promote the use of hostas in the landscape. NIHS works closely with the American Hosta Society (AHS) and the Midwest Regional Hosta Society (MRHS) planning and hosting hosta events and donating to hosta research. NIHS is a general not-for-profit organization that serves the people of Northern Illinois and surrounding areas.
Some of our Programs, Events & Activities
Cantigny Park National Hosta Display Garden This garden is an American Hosta Society (AHS) National Hosta Display Garden we maintain. NIHS continues to add to this display garden through plant donations from our NIHS members as well as commercial growers and hybridizers. NIHS has also purchased a number of desired cultivars. Today when you come to our garden, you will find over 250+ different cultivars and companion plants to please your garden palette and have you leave desiring more HOSTAS and companion plants for your garden. Come sit with us in this beautiful garden that brings tranquility and rest during busy days. 
Please Note: Change in building location on Sunday! Go to the Medill Room at the Welcome Center. Members, check your email. Thank you. See you Sunday, 3-12-23 Winter Symposium
March 12, 2023 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Medill Room, Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL 12-1:00 p.m. Jan Smith will be selling cement garden stepping stones with detailed leaf impressions in her designs prior to the meeting in the Medill Room. These are truly stepping stones lovely and will be a talking point in your gardens, as well as a focal point. 1:00 -2:00 p.m. Beth Botts, an award-winning writer, editor, and speaker specializing in nature, conservation, plants and gardening. She is on the staff of a major scientific and botanical institution, The Morton Arboretum, and also works as a freelancer for publications including the Chicago Tribune, Chicagoland Gardening and other magazines and publications. She's a Master Gardener and Openlands' Treekeeper. The guest speakers selected for each syposium are horticultural experts in their field. Her presentation is entitled, "Mulitply and Divide". This presentation will be presented in-person. 2:00-3:00 p.m. Time to mingle and socialize with NIHS members. We will be following all CDC guidelines to continue to keep all members and presenters safe. NO TOOL SHARPENING VENDOR TODAY |
2023 MRHS Winter Symposium.
Feb 24-25, 2023 Milwaukee-Brookfield, WI Friday, February 24th
GLR Hosta College gift plants for attending. You will choose one from these two offerings.
2023 The Great Lakes Region (GLR) Hosta
College March 17 & 18, 2023 Upper Valley Career Center Piqua, Ohio Below is the link to the Hosta College website. In past years, 20 or more classes were offered and attendees chose several one or two hour sessions. Members of the Great Lakes Regional Hosta Society (GLRHS) sponsor's this annual learning event, so their members are given the first opportunity to register and choose classes and then registration is opened to the general public. Registration opens for GLR Hosta Society Members: February 4, 2023 Registration opens for Non-GLR Hosta Society Members: February 11, 2023 Registration Closes: midnight, February 26, 2023 Be sure to check it out and register for more learning opportuntities! 2023 Hosta College The website also includes information about the 2023 GLRHS Tailgate to be held in July in the Buffalo, NY area. Last Day to Register for Hosta College 2023: February 26, 2023 |
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Spring Symposium Presentation
May 21, 2023 12:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Education Center, Cantigny Park, IL 11:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. Sponsor Plant Pick-up 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. garden art vendor -TBD 1:00 -2:00 p.m. an special guest will present " Confessions of a Hostaholic". 2:00-3:00 p.m. Time to mingle and socialize with NIHS members Our Spring Symposium will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023, at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL in the afternoon beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Education Center. The guest speakers selected for each symposium are horticultural experts in their field. This presentation will be presented in-person and we will be following all CDC guidelines to continue to keep all members and presenters safe. |
Sponsor Plant Pick-Up-on May 21, 2023
Pond Pavillion from 11:45-12:45 p.m. Cantigny Park, Education Center, Wheaton, IL As Lou Horton, NIHS Past President, 2003-2011, has always said, “the Sponsor Plant Program is designed for the benefit of our members”. Every year we select 4 high quality cultivars from two NIHS vendors. You will receive field grown divisions that are ready to be placed in your garden after the threat of frost. The offerings are beautiful cultivars that everyone should have in their collection. For more information, look in your email in the March NIHS newsletter. If you have further questions, please contact Mike Kraus, President. Hosta plants have not been decided on yet for this year. The hosta plants will be decided on by March 2023 and posted on our Members Only tab on our website to purchase. |
Annual Leaf Display at the Chicago Botanic Garden
June 3-4, 2023 The NIHS's mission & purpose is to share knowledge of hostas and to promote the use of hostas in the landscape. How better to do this than to display the most stunning hosta leaves from our gardens. Members donate their prized hosta leaves. Hundreds of visitors will enjoy this hosta experience. Some buy hostas and ferns from our vendors. Attendees also have the opportunity to vote on their favorite hosta leaf. If you would like to volunteer to help with this event, please contact Zoe Ingersoll. |
American Hosta Society National Convention
June 7-10, 2023 Ames, Iowa Welcome to Fields of Hosta Dreams 2023 website. To Register go to: American Hosta Society website Here you will find out about this year’s American Hosta Society (AHS) National Convention, to be held June 7-10, 2023. You may also register on-line with credit or debit card or download a registration form you can print out and mail in with your check, or register completely on-line via credit or debit card. The Russ O'Harra Hosta Society is delighted to be the host for the AHS 2023 convention. Hostas continue to be America’s number one perennial due to their versatility in the landscape. |
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Garden Walks- 2023 Each Summer, at least two to four members open their home gardens to our members. This summer we have two exciting garden walks that we believe you will enjoy. Each garden is a reflection of the homeowners that have lovingly created their tranquil environment. You will always find our Summer Garden Walks in our spring and summer newsletters and in individual emails sent out to all of our NIHS members with details about the gardens and directions. You will also find the information in our Member's Only section on our website navigation bar. |
Open Gardens - date and information to be determined |
NIHS Summer Symposium Presentation July 9, 2023 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. Cantigny Park-Education Building Information to follow 
Midwest Regional Hosta Society Convention-
Rochester, MN July 13-15, 2023 Please follow the details on the MRHS website and we hope to see you all attend this great leaning opportunity and participate in all the wonderful site seeing in the Rochester, MN area. The convention is sponsored by the Shades of Green Hosta Society. During the convention you will be able to:
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Auction & Summer Picnic - Cantigny Park-
August 6, 2023-Mark your Calendars Information to follow Thank you to each and everyone of our donors and bidders for making our auction a great success last year and in previous years. Each Summer, members and member vendors contribute plants (hostas & companion plants) from their own gardens or nurseries to the annual NIHS Auction. This is our only fundraiser of the year. The Northern Illinois Hosta Society (NIHS) was founded in October 1992 by a group of people that shared a passion for hostas. The society is dedicated to educating the public and promoting the use of hostas in the landscape. NIHS works closely with the American Hosta Society and the Midwest Regional Hosta Society planning and hosting hosta events and donating to hosta research. NIHS is a not-for-profit organization that serves the people of Northern Illinois and surrounding areas. The funds raised from this event will support our numerous programs and social events including Hosta Garden Walks, symposiums, and meetings. |
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Annual Membership Meeting-Members Only
September 2023-date to be determined at the Education Center at Cantigny The purpose of this annual meeting is to discuss and approve the NIHS annual Budget and the election of new officers to fill vacant positions. Our meeting is usually scheduled on a Sunday in September. The Nominating Committee Report and the Budget proposal is always emailed to our members for their review before this meeting. After the meeting we can walk the beautiful gardens at Cantigny and observe the changing seasonal colors among the vegetation while gathering ideas for our own gardens. Don't forget to bring your favorite fall dessert to share with your fellow members. |
Fall Symposium - Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Cantigny Park, Wheaton, IL
Presenter and vendor to be determined Our Fall Symposium will be held on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Speaker to be determined. Hopefully the weather will be favorable and many of you will be able to find some time to stroll through our American Hosta Society National Display Garden just south of the Visitor’s Center. We hope you will enjoy the sights of so many wonderful hostas and their companion plants. Cantigny Park is located at 1s151 Winfield Road, in Wheaton. Members, please wear your NIHS name tags and wear your mask as the presentation will be indoors. We will be following CDC guidelines and Illinois guidelines too. We look forward to seeing many or all of you there in October 2023. Be sure to check out the future newsletters about this event. |
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NIHS Member Vendors & Advertisers
Please patronize our Member Vendors & Advertisers. Our advertisers have special Sale and/or Open House dates that would be a perfect time to shop for some great hostas and companions. Click here to see these special businesses that support NIHS.
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Resources
We feel you will find helpful information and videos to watch as our seasons change. There is much to learn as we hone our gardening skills. During the winter time we begin to dream, visualize, plan, read, rearrange, and read some more gardening resources while we reflect on what our gardens might look like in the spring. In the spring, we can't wait to clean up our gardens and begin to dig in the dirt. Summer lends itself to more work as we reap the visual sensations of our delightful gardens. In the fall, we must prepare our gardens for their long awaited sleep. You will find a page of virtual gardens under the Resources tab to look at for additional ideas in your gardens too. |
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Become a Member Today
An affordable NIHS membership gives you access to informative programs, Garden Walks and botanical gardens, annual gardening bus or car caravan trip, our spring plant sale and more. Become a NIHS member today! |
JOIN NIHS Facebook page
Our Northern Illinois Hosta Society Facebook page is filled with garden related topics relating to hostas and companion plants, garden issues and other topics that arise in the gardening world. Join and follow our NIHS Facebook group to share garden pictures, post comments, and ask questions with our NIHS followers. |
Thank you for visiting our website. Want to keep up with what’s going on at NIHS? Visit this page often or follow us on Facebook!
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