1,000+ Hostas in Oregon! Mandy Visits Sebright Gardens in the Willamette Valley & It Did Not Disappoint

Ever wondered how to manage irrigation in a shade garden, or what it looks like when someone turns a passion project into one of the most remarkable nurseries in the country? This episode has answers.Mandy made the trip from the Midwest to Salem, Oregon to walk the four acres of display gardens at Sebright Gardens — and came back with stories worth sharing. We sit down with co-founder Kirk Hansen to talk about how he's built a living collection of over 1,000 hosta varieties alongside hardy ferns and epimediums, making Sebright one of the largest shade-garden nurseries west of the Mississippi.Kirk started Sebright as a private passion project in 2003. Today it's a destination for shade gardeners, plant parents, and hosta collectors from across the country — and yes, they do ship beyond Oregon's borders.In this conversation we get into the real nuts and bolts of managing a large shade garden: irrigation strategies, the challenges of growing under established trees, how to curate companion plants that complement hostas, and what the visitor experience is actually like when you walk those mossy paths yourself.Whether you're designing a shady corner of your backyard, dreaming of a Pacific Northwest road trip, or just fell down the hosta rabbit hole recently — this one's for you.Topics covered:Irrigation strategies for large shade gardensGrowing hostas and shade plants under treesHow Sebright Gardens grew from a backyard project to a destination nurseryCurating 1,000+ hosta varieties alongside ferns and epimediumsWhat to expect when visiting Sebright Gardens in Oregon's Willamette ValleyShipping plants across state lines — what's possible and how it worksShade garden design inspiration from the Pacific NorthwestFollow us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a story to share? Email us at [email protected], or find us on Facebook and Instagram at Hosta La Vista Podcast.