One last dance...

[journey11]

We got our first snow flurries today. I had two belated hollyhocks still blooming, the latest I have ever seen a hollyhock bloom. (Normally they bloom in June/July here.)

I have a lot of hollyhocks, in many colors and one of these late bloomers is absolutely the most stunning I have seen. It must be a cross of my others, which have been in the bed for 3 years now. This is the first appearance of this delicious color and it also has an impressive size, with blooms measuring 5" across. I could not bear to let the freeze destroy it, so I ran outside last night and cut it to bring in where I could enjoy it in my windowsill just a few more days.

The honeybees and bumblebees have long since retired for the winter, so I have been pollinating this one by hand, hoping to get some plants next year that will hopefully return true. They are perennial, so at the very least I will be able to enjoy this specimen again next year.

I really fought with my camera and the lighting to get an accurate reproduction of it's fabulous color. This was the closest I could get. It actually appears a bit darker in person. I really need to invest in a better camera! The color reminds me of blackberry wine and I have gotten so much pleasure from this last little remembrance of summer.

 

[digitS']

Very pretty, Journey! Hollyhocks are so tall, and that one is just majestic!

digitS'

Foggy Dewhurst: Every time I come up here, the spirit soars!
You can't help thinking what a wonderful place it would be to set up a machine gun! Give me a small squad of hand-picked men and I could defend this place indefinitely!

Norman Clegg: How long have you been a nature lover, Foggy?

Last of the Summer Wine

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Beautiful photos, Journey!
The last flowers of summer/fall are always so precious! I noticed mine this evening after shutting up the chickens for the night. We have a frost warning for tonight with snow forecast for the higher areas. It has been incredibly mild here for weeks (also very wet & windy) but I have a whole lot of roses & even passion flowers in bloom plus a few clematis. I suspect they wont be looking so good come morning. I too cut a perfect rose & bought it inside to enjoy along with some sprigs of flowering honeysuckle.


:rose Hattie :rose

 

[journey11]

If I can get this hollyhock to come back true from seed, I think I'll call it "Summer Wine"...perfectly describes it!

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Perfect name, journey

Why is it that some people's hollyhocks come true from seeds & others, like me unfortunately, can never manage it? What am I doing wrong?
I would love some advice/information as I would love to grow the dark red ones along with the almost black ones against the white walls of my cottage.

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[journey11]

I had gotten a medley of seeds from one person, and some transplants from another. After a couple years of growing and mixing, I counted 16 color varieties this summer.

I have mine all planted against my white brick garage which they seem to love the south-west exposure there and the backdrop really makes them pop. I have some black ones, and I'll bet this one was a cross from that and something else. One of my other favorites is a pale pink/lemon yellow blend that looks like a sunrise.

Hollyhocks are definitely one of my favorite flowers, for their carefree nature, easy growth habit and long run of blooms. I really can't say how you would keep them from crossing, because I know mine do, but like I said I have all colors growing together. They are heavily pollinated by bumblebees and they really get after it too. I don't know how you could keep them out so that you could hand pollinate yourself, other than having them very, very isolated from each other maybe? This one was late and only one of two plants separated by a little distance and there have been no bees for a couple months, so I really hope my hand pollinating will pay off for me next year!

Here's some pics of my others in full bloom...

Can you tell I LOVE hollyhocks?

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Those are just so beautiful!
The last time I saw so many was in Elsinore in Denmark. I was there designing a production of 'Hamlet' being performed there in the castle grounds. One early morning I had a wander round the old town (it is beautifully preserved) & everywhere there were huge numbers of hollyhocks growing up against the old wooden buildings -- streets & streets of them -- it was magical !

:rose Hattie :rose

 

[injunjoe]

I keep looking at this thread and am lost for words!

Those flowers are just so nice. The height is sweet, it must be some view from inside that window!

Thanks for the pictures. I have some Hollyhocks started that I got from
Heidi. Looking forward to them in full bloom.

Joe

 

[4grandbabies]

Wow journey11, what a lovely sight. I had beautiful hollyhocks at our previous home for a few years, then an pest of some sort started eating them up I sprayed what I thought would work, but lost them .. I think I will try again here, that was such a beautiful reminder , but if anyone knows what it is that turns their leaves to lace and kills the stem, let me know.

 

[journey11]

4grandbabies, there is a teenie tiny green caterpillar that does it. I forget what they are called. They say to spray them when you first notice it. I hate to have to spray anything! But you are right, they will completely defoliate them if left to it. When the leaves are gone, the plant can't make and store food for next year, and if they come back at all, they'll be sad and small.

Hollyhocks will come back for several years if they are healthy. I have heard them called biennials, and some say that they are at their best on the second year and downhill from there, but I have not seen that to be true. Occasionally I'll lose one, but I have enough to fill in with that come up from seed. I top dress/mulch mine with a little compost and lots of grass clippings in the summer and they come back nice year after year (and make more babies for me to plant elsewhere!) I've had poor luck saving seed, as even in refridgeration little weevils hatch out and eat up the seed. I guess you'd have to spray to prevent that too. :/