As with most things in this year's garden, our first hollyhocks are JUST kicking things off here in early August, which is such a relief! After watching them sit since spring at four or five inches off the ground, they finally got serious these past couple weeks and have begun to shoot up in height. I planted three along our back garden path (tell the folks who say you can only plant them against a wall or fence that's total BS!).
I first fell in love with hollyhocks - often referred to as 'outhouse hollyhocks' on the farm when I experimented with them near the hothouse where they'd bask in the southern exposure. Immediately I had to put a few in the side yard when we downsized to city life, and yet here, this is the first time I've planted truly RED ones...the past has always reflected my affinity for purple :). Looking similar to a hibiscus or some kinds of mallow, I've never found hollyhocks difficult to grow, unlike the 'finicky' reputation they supposedly have on some websites. The pollinators love them and I love them. Voila.
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