New England Hosta Society
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Welcome to NEHS
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​


New England Hosta Society​

Devoted to hosta and the gardeners who appreciate them.

Download A Guide to Hosta
To print as a booklet: open in Adobe Acrobat and select "Booklet" and "Both Sides" in the Print dialog.

​Mission Statement

The New England Hosta Society is a non profit educational society organized to promote, encourage, and foster the development and improvement of Hosta and the public interest therein.  

The New England Hosta Society was established in 1982, with Constance Williams
serving as the first President of NEHS (more about our Heritage is provided below).
​The Society Meets at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill, Boylston, MA.

Meet the NEHS Officers 2025

 We deliver great educational programming and fun events to members and the plant-loving public. 
To better meet your expectations, we invite you to share your thoughts and ideas
for future programming. Please connect with one of us at
an upcoming event or send a note to [email protected].
President: Tina Rufo, Nashua, NH ([email protected])
Vice President: Open
Treasurer: Lauren Patric, Wilbraham, MA ([email protected])
Recording Secretary: Robin Murray, Bridgewater, MA
Membership Chairperson: Lina Tsankova, Hanover, MA ([email protected])
Newsletter: Judith Artley, Framingham, MA ([email protected])
Hostatality: ​Paula Lehtola, Bridgewater, MA
Past President: Wes Straub, Peabody, MA
Trustees: Marta Calixtor, Milford, MA; Nadine Proctor, Northborough, MA; Chris Sargent, Lowell, MA
NEHS Bylaws

2025 Photo Contest - 1st Place Winners

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Category 1, Best Hosta Individual Leaf: Chris Sargent, H. 'Bridal Falls'
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Category 2, Best Variegated Hosta, Chris Sargent, H. 'Warwick Comet'
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Category 3, Best Non-variegated Hosta: Diane Skerritt, H. 'Elegans'
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Category 5, Best Hosta Landscape, Diane Skerrit, her garden, including H. 'Bressingham Blue', H. elegans, H. 'Night Before Christmas', H. 'Marilyn Monroe', H. 'Happy Dayz'
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Category 4, Hosta & Companions: Diane Skerritt, H. 'Blue Angel', H. Montana 'Aureomaringata', H. 'Undalata' and friends
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Category 6, Best Creative Hosta Photo: Chris Sargent, H. 'Liberty'
New England Hosta Society's Heritage
Where it all began! Frances Ropes Williams was born on July 23, 1882 and died in October 1969, at the age of 86.  She grew up in Salem, Massachusetts, and was a longtime resident of nearby Winchester with her husband Stillman P. Williams.  She began hybridizing hostas in the 1950s and was recognized as one of the first major hosta hybridizers in the United States, undoubtedly because both she and her daughter, Constance "Connie" Williams were meticulous record keepers.

​The influence of Frances Williams on the world of hostas, especially through her daughter, can hardly be overemphasized. Some time after Frances' death, Constance became a founder and first President of the New England Hosta Society, which was established in 1982.  Connie continued the dedicated work of her mother as she corresponded with many hosta enthusiasts, donated the massive records of her mother to the Andersen Horticultural Library at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and registered most of her mother's hosta.

​Frances Williams was active in the Herb Society of America and became the curator of its Herbarium.  In 1952, she received the first Award of Merit given by the Society and in 1959, the New England unit of the Society made her an honorary member. Probably through this connection Mrs. Williams donated hostas to the hosta garden at the Case Estates of the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, in Weston, Massachusetts. In 1992, the hostas were given to the Viles Arboretum (formerly the Pine Tree State Arboretum) and transplanted by the Maine Hosta Society.

​Frances Williams exhibited at the shows of the Massachusetts Horticulture Society where she won awards, including a bronze medal in 1953.  In the summer of 1969, she received a citation from the newly established American Hosta Society "for inspiring others with the love of hostas".  Her photos appeared in The Genus Hosta in Swedish Gardens and her articles were printed in the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens' Plants and Gardens and in other gardening magazines.

The discovery and naming of H. 'Frances Williams' is often repeated, but fortunately, we have the story from Connie's records that subsequently led to discovering H. 'Yellow Edge', later named H. 'Frances Williams'.  This give us an insight into the difficulties hybridizers have faced.  

Frances Williams was a very vigorous and active woman up until her death.  The following list of Frances Williams' hostas is a testament to her hybridizing success and to our New England Hosta heritage.  Four hostas remember her great-grandmother, granddaughter and two daughters (H. 'Betsy King', H. 'Carol', H. 'Connie', H. "Louisa').  H. 'Beatrice', H. 'Betsy King', H. 'Carol', H. 'Charldon', H. 'Connie', H. "Dorothy', H. 'Frances Williams', H. 'Green Piecrust', H. 'Green Ripples', H. 'Louisa', H. 'Sentinels', H. 'Sprite', H. 'Sunlight.

Contributed by Barbara Jones and Carolyn Schaffner
Reprinted from the 2011 NEHS hosted AHS Convention's Handbook
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Steve Greene receives the Alex J Summers Distinguished Merit Award at the 2018 AHS Convention in Philadellphia. AHS President Gregg Peterson, and VP of Awards & Honors, Paula Lehtola, present Steve with the award . Steve chose H. Reflected Glory as his Distinguished Merit Hosta. Steve is the fourth NEHS member to receive this honor.

 Past NEHS Presidents:

2019-2021 Wes Straub
2016-2018 Nadine Proctor 

2014-2015 Deborah Myrick
2011-2014 Susan Andersen
2009-2011 Chuck Andersen and Susan Andersen 
2007-2009 Richard "Rick" Kimball
2005-2007 John O'Brien
2003-2005 Mary Arnberg and Paula Lehtola
1996-2003 Ernest Fillipo
1994-1996 Barbara Jones
1992-1994 Carol Hull
1990-1992 Geraldine "Geri" Andersen
1988-1990 Philip Kratsch
1986-1988 Robert "Bob" Deane
1984-1986 Mabel Maria Herwig
1982-1984 Constance "Connie" Williams (1st President)
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Additional officers supporting 1st President, Constance Williams include: Vice President Mabel Herwig, Secretary Mildred Seaver, and Treasurer Carl Calderara.

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Garden of Rick and Sheila Goodenough
H. Earth Angel, photo by L. Patric
Paula Lehtola's H. Humpback Whale, by R. LeBuff
H. Sea Octopus, photo by T. Rufo
H. Frank Lloyd Wright, photo by S. Shaw
Thank you for your interest in the NEHS
​If you are not already a member, join today!
@2023 New England Hosta Society
  • Home
  • Events
  • MEMBERS ONLY
    • MEMBERSHIP LIST
    • LEAF LETTERS
    • General Meeting Notes
    • Tower Hill
    • Hosta Price Guide
  • Membership
  • Contact
  • More About Us
  • Photos
    • 2025 Photo Contest
    • 2024 Photo Contest
    • 2023 Photo Contest
  • Resources
  • Hosta Shows
  • Management Committee
    • Meeting Minutes