How cows can benefit from hostas at Woodstock event

"Hosta Happening," a fundraiser for Heifer International, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery Inc., 11618 McConnell Road, Woodstock.

The event is sponsored by Rich Eyre, Susan Eyre and Margaret Eyre, the 92-year-old "Hosta Queen."

The event features several hundred varieties of hostas for $5 and up for sale. Rich Eyre worked with this organization in the Peace Corps 42 years ago in Bolivia and he can give testimony to its positive effects in those communities.

Rich and Susan Eyre served six years on the board of trustees of the Heifer Foundation. Heifer International volunteers will be available to answer any questions about the charity on the day of the sale. Refreshments will be served.

In "Hosta Leaf Identification" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tom Michiletti, president of the American Hosta Society, will be available to identify your unknown hosta leaves.

At 1 p.m., there will be a presentation, "Hosta Heaven for Shady Characters," by Mary Beth Vanous of Q&Z Nursery in Rochelle.

"The Hostapedia: An Encyclopedia of Hostas" will be for sale.

This 1,125-page book describes every hosta that author Mark Zilis has encountered over the past 30 years. There are 1,897 photos of hostas as well as many unusual collector's plants and hosta oddities.

Call (815) 338-7442 or e-mail coniflora@richsfoxwillowpines.com.