As anticipated, the visit to O'Brien Nurseryman in Granby, CT was wonderful, awe inspiring, informative, fun, and a feast for the eyes.  In addition to multiple – 1600 to 2000 varieties of hosta – you find hundreds of daylilies, conifers, maples, and multiple other shade-loving plants. Just browse the mind-boggling list at www.obrienhosta.com for an idea of their extensive plant list.

Some of the many highlights of O'Brien's Nursery include the sunny display borders.

Hosta for a sunny spot.

Show-stopping evergreens, such as Abies koreana 'Silvershow' and a close-up of its needles.

The lovely Daphne x burkwoodii 'Briggs Moonlight'.

Its cousin - a Daphne sport and O'Brien find - with more green variegation. (See more about O'Brien's daphne's and the nursery visit at Gardening Asylum)

A surprisingly low growing maple, Acer palmatum 'Yatsubusa Kiyohime'.  It tops out at about a foot to 18 inches tall – yes, it remains at that height – and spreads to six to eight feet wide. Rumor has it that Debbie at A Garden of Possibilities walked out with one for her garden. … we'll watch for her future report. (see Debbie's post on O'Brien's daylilies)

Tucked here and there, interesting ferns like Dryopteris filix-mas 'Christata Martindale'.

But O'Brien mostly boasts hosta, and lovers of these foliage fashionistas will not be disappointed at the borders, and edges, and corners, and paths, and slopes filled with every type, size, and color hosta one could imagine.

In addition, visitors' minds fill with ideas for placing and combining hosta with other hosta, and other types of greenery. Plus, a walk-through offers a peek at the future – what I like to call O'Brien's nursery within a nursery. Owner, propagator, and hosta aficionado John nurses along hundreds of plants for next year and beyond.

The visit to O'Brien Nursery is worth the trip, particularly on a hot summer day. The nursery has many Garden Days, open from 10am to 5 pm, remaining from now through mid-October. Don't pass up the opportunity to enjoy this treasure.

I hope to find a spot in a future garden for a crinkly-leaf hosta 'Deep Blue Sea'. If you really push me to choose just one favorite of all I saw, this is it … but you really have to push hard.

For more photos from the O'Brien visit head to Scott's Blue Heron Landscapes blog.