Michigan Societies
Eastern Michigan Hosta Society meets in Lapeer.
EMHS website is emhosta.com
Southwest Michigan Hosta Society meets in the Kalamazoo area.
SWMHS website is swmhostasociety.org
West Michigan Hosta Society meets in the Grand Rapids area.
WMHS website is www.wmhostasociety.org
Dates, times, and locations are subject to change.
Questions are sometimes asked about the relationship of the local hosta societies to the Michigan Hosta Society. A little history is perhaps the easiest way to answer most of those questions. In the mid-90s, MHS held a meeting to discuss the feasibility of sponsoring or helping in the establishment of some local societies around the state. There was a growing need for a way to get more information about hostas out to the increasing number of gardeners who were growing hostas. MHS had tried winter meetings but because of the long distances involved the meetings had to be on weekends; that and the winter weather often made them poorly attended. The establishment of some local chapters seemed to be the best way to meet the needs of our members.
As a result of the initial meeting, members of six areas in the state said they were going to look into starting a local group. Some of those groups were immediately formed; others have happened in the intervening years. All of the groups are financially independent and operate under their own bylaws. Membership in MHS as well as the local group is encouraged but not mandatory. There are currently three local groups.