Heavenly Hostas Minnesota | Kathy Pedersen on Cottage Shade Gardens, Hosta Collecting & Hideko Gowen

If you've ever dreamed of a garden that feels like it was conjured rather than planted — with winding paths, handcrafted sculptures, a waterfall, a pond, tucked away sheds built by hand, and hostas around every corner — Kathy Pedersen's Heavenly Hostas in Shakopee, Minnesota is exactly that place.This week on Hosta La Vista, Betsy and Mandy sit down with Kathy for one of the warmest, funniest, and most insightful conversations we've had yet. Kathy is a grower, a guide, and the heart behind one of the Midwest's most beloved award-winning cottage shade gardens — a private wonderland that visitors can actually experience in person, by appointment.And yes, if she has the plant and you ask nicely, she just might dig up a piece for you to take home. Find her on Facebook — she's responsive, generous, and genuinely loves connecting with fellow hosta enthusiasts.Kathy shares what she looks for in a great plant, what it means to have a show garden, and how she thinks about micro-climates when designing her layered cottage shade garden spaces. But perhaps the most special part of this conversation is the story of her lifelong friendship with legendary hosta hybridizer Hideko Gowen — and how that relationship quietly shaped her entire path in the hosta world.Heavenly Hostas isn't just a garden. It's a reflection of decades of passion, friendship, artistry, and an almost unreasonable love of shade plants. The handcrafted sculptures, the hand built sheds, the waterfall, the pond — every corner of this cottage shade garden tells a story. And Kathy tells them all beautifully.Topics covered:Touring Heavenly Hostas — an award-winning private cottage shade garden in Shakopee, MinnesotaDesigning a cottage shade garden with waterfalls, ponds, paths, and handcrafted sculpturesUnderstanding micro-climates and how to use them in shade garden designWhat Kathy Pedersen looks for in a great hostaKathy's lifelong friendship with legendary hosta hybridizer Hideko GowenHow to visit Heavenly Hostas by appointment and purchase plants directly from KathyWhat it means to open a private garden as a show gardenShade garden inspiration for collectors and beginner gardeners alikeWant to visit Heavenly Hostas or inquire about plants? Find Kathy Pedersen on Facebook — she loves hearing from fellow shade garden enthusiasts and is happy to arrange visits and plant purchases by appointment.Follow 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.