Hollyhocks grown by Rosalie Stafford, National City, Spring of 2009. Singles grown from seed collected (with permission) from another gardener in the area. Castor beans in background grown from seeds collected from wild plants at Euclid Trolley Station; beans were started in pots and transplanted— all seven seedlings survived. Roses to left of hollyhocks are Elle, planted Summer of 2008.
Note the incised string course on the Streamline Modern house (click for details of the history of the architectural style in general and this historic house in particular).
Rosalie Stafford uses no synthetic pesticides nor fertilizers in her gardens. Soil is extremely poor, a mixture of clay and sand. Amendments used consist of home-made compost, steer manure, and generously applied colonies of earthworms (from wormbeds in backyard).