HAD A GREAT TIME! Vitame Vas...which is Czech for 'we welcome you'... to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for the 2014 AHS Hosta Convention... June 11-14. Harshbarger Hosta Society will be your convention host!
The reason we chose the theme 'Czech it Out!' for this convention is the high percentage of Czech ancestry here in Cedar Rapids and the National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library that is located in our city. At the beginning of the 20th century, roughly 25% of the Cedar Rapids population was of Czech heritage.
Cedar Rapids is the home of Quaker Oats - the largest cereal mill in the world. Most of you are familiar with the painting "American Gothic"...Grant Wood lived here and painted his famous work of art at Turner Alley. If you are driving east or west to Cedar Rapids, you may be traveling on the historic 'Lincoln Highway', which goes through town. Brucemore is one of our beautiful Queen Anne homes and it is open for tours of the home and it's garden.
We will gather at the Marriott Hotel on Collins Road for a few days of hostas, friends, food and talk! There will be 9 gardenson our tour, plus Noelridge Gardens...just across the street from the hotel. We are offering one bus for those of you that enjoy the ride, but if you want to drive...you can do that...too!
Be sure to 'Czech Out" the other information on our website about the optional tours, the gardens, speakers, the Marriott Hotel and other activities. It will be a fun and busy week!
