Gone fishin' If you're just as interested in your fish as the water gardens you keep them in, consider attending the Upper Midwest Koi Club's show and product expo this weekend. The show, the fourth annual, will feature a koi competition (you can enter one of yours), displays, sales of koi and pond products as well as seminars. The free event runs from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m Sunday at Bachman's on Lyndale in Minneapolis. For more information, contact John VerHalen at 952-937-1227.
CONNIE NELSON
An update on hostas The "New Encyclopedia of Hostas" would provoke a sense of déjà vu, except that we have been here before. In 2004, Timber Press and writers Diana Grenfell and Michael Shadrack gave us "The Color Encyclopedia of Hostas."
What could possibly be so different in just five years? Quite a bit, it turns out.
Obviously, the writers recognized they had a good thing going with their previous encyclopedia, which organized this popular shade plant by color and variegation and offered photos of every featured hosta.
But to their credit they haven't just slapped a new title on this one. The new encyclopedia builds on the strengths of the 2004 version. It includes more general information and updated graphics. It boasts 814 color photos, including close-ups of each featured plant. The price remains $49.95.
Most important, this version recognizes the growing popularity of small hostas with two new sections for miniature hostas and "very small" hostas.
The authors fall a bit short in attempting to show how to use hostas with contrasting plants, but that's forgivable. They can improve that the next time around.
