2009 MIDWEST REGIONAL
HOSTA CONVENTION
Hosted
by
Illinois Prairie Hosta Society
June 11-13,
2009
I Hotel and Conference Center
1900 South First Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Registration Form Hotel Schedule Vendors Speakers Sponsors Show Rules
The Illinois Prairie Hosta Society is proud to host the ‘Grand Prairie Hostas’ 2009 Midwest Regional Hosta Convention in Champaign, Illinois, June 11-13, 2009. The convention location is the I Hotel and Conference Center, a brand new luxury hotel and state-of-the-art conference center. The convention includes all the expected activities such as national and local vendors, accredited hosta leaf show, live and silent auctions, garden tours, raffles, banquet, hospitality suite, and optional garden tours on Sunday. New events include a Thursday evening alfresco cocktail party, educational seminars on Friday, and optional golf outings on Friday and Saturday.
The metro area of
Champaign, Urbana and the University of Illinois campus offers attendees a
variety of restaurants, garden centers, shopping, museums, parks and other
activities. Travel to Champaign is easy and
direct via three interstate highways, Willard Airport (CMI), Amtrak or
Greyhound. Contact the I Hotel
for room reservations at 217.819.5000 or visit www.stayatthei.com, and
use Attendee Code AHOS.
2009
Convention Highlights
THURSDAY: The convention opens at noon on
Thursday. Shop the vendor booths,
purchase raffle tickets, submit hosta show entries and drop off auction plants
until 6 PM. In the early evening travel a short distance to the neighboring
gardens of two hostaholics and enjoy an alfresco cocktail party
featuring Dennis Kovar, (Attica, IN), a floral designer and entertaining garden
speaker. Dennis will demonstrate how to make unique floral arrangements with
items found in the garden.
FRIDAY: The morning features a Judges Clinic I
training class, and an educational seminar with three consecutive presentations
by experienced, knowledgeable speakers on interesting gardening and plant
topics. In the afternoon, another seminar with three more presentations will be
offered. The hosta leaf show, a major attraction, opens mid-afternoon. The
vendor area is open to attendees and the public all day. During evening
cocktails enjoy the silent auction, followed by dinner and the live auction.
SATURDAY: The day begins with breakfast and a tour of
six great gardens. After the garden tours the buses go to a Country Arbors Nursery
for a barbeque lunch and shopping. After lunch the buses return to the hotel
with time to visit the vendors and hosta leaf show, or just relax before the
convention banquet. Following dinner, enjoy the delightful humor of hosta author
and photographer, Mike Shadrack (Hamburg, NY). Mike's books, as well as Mark
Zilis' new book, will be available for purchase and signing at the convention.
SUNDAY: Before leaving on Sunday, take optional tours of beautiful private gardens or the University of Illinois’ Idea Garden, Japan House, and Allerton Park in nearby Monticello, IL.
Please join
us June 11-13, 2009 for a ‘Grand Prairie Hostas’ good time!
|
email questions to: barbschro1@gmail.com
or call 217-359-2868 |