Hollyhocks (red singles and red doubles) grown by Rosalie Stafford, National City, Spring of 2009.

Singles grown from seed collected (with permission) from another gardener in the area; doubles grown from purchased seed.  Seedlings were started in pots and transplanted; hungry bugs found the seedlings delicious and many fell prey to their voracity.

This location is too hot and windy for hollyhocks.  New bed will be started next to front windows seen in picture. 

Note the rounded corners of 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).   Return to roses index.