Hosta sale to benefit hunger relief

Hosta Happening to benefit Heifer International is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Rich's Foxwillow Pines Nursery Inc., 11618 McConnell Road, Woodstock. The event is sponsored by Rich Eyre, Susan Eyre and Margaret Eyre, the 91-year-old "Hosta Queen."

The Hosta Happening has several hundred varieties of hostas $5 and up for sale to benefit Heifer International. Heifer International is an international charity that leads hungry people to self-reliance through sharing farm animals. The recipients of the animals must pass on the first female offspring to another family in need. Rich Eyre worked with this organization in the Peace Corps 41 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 has provided food and income producing animals to more than 8 million impoverished families in 135 countries in the last 65 years. Heifer International staff and volunteers will be available to answer any questions about the charity on the day of the sale. Refreshments will be served.

At 1 p.m. will be the presentation "Conifers for the Shade Garden" by Rich Eyre. Take a walk with Rich and learn what conifers and plants grow in the shade.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will be the sale of the new hosta book, "The Hostapedia: An Encyclopedia of Hostas" by Mark Zilis. This 1,125-page new book describes every hosta that Mark 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. It is the most definitive work on hostas in print and a must for every collector, nurseryman, and gardener.

For information, call (815) 338-7142 or visit coniflora@richsfoxwillowpines.com.