I miss hollyhocks.  We used to use the flowers as skirts for stick dolls and play with the leaves.  But it has been years since I’ve had some at a house where I live.

These plants came from Wolf Creek Nursery near Mansfield and look really strong.  I planted one last week and decided that I needed to get serious about it. So, we drove the delightful short trip (about 3 miles) to Wolf Creek Nursery where I got some more yesterday.  They have a swap meet there and had an estate auction on the grounds too.  There were puppies, chickens, turkeys, goats, CRAFTS and more on display for sale or trade.

Despite our rainy weather, the sun was shining and we actually picked up a little pink sunburn.

I plan to ‘document’ the hollyhock progress.

They are in red dirt but have their toes nested in a layer of worm castings from the worm composting bins in the basement.   They are in a sunny area just under my office window.  They aren’t supposed to be the tall ones, so I will probably have to get up and walk outside to see them.  A little exercise is good for me.

Bold Gold and Bold Blue Beauty

I have a red/rust colored house,  lots of fire in the color, which leads me to usually choose white for my pots.  But that dark gold color waved its flag at me and convinced me the marigolds would be just right in team with a few white, wax begonias who are going to parade in a concrete pot that gets HARD sun.

I couldn’t figure out the resource for the plants, but I like their style.  The little box is supposed to have eight and there were ten because a couple littler plants survived.  The set wasn’t crippled by the little separate sections that have been popular for 20 years at garden centers.    I had to STIMULATE the roots to get them apart.   This is the same resource that sold the wax begonias.  I was already impressed, now even more so.

The ten plants were too many for the concrete container, but a generous line will background the begonias.   The remainder will make a vigorous pot of gold to decorate another corner.  Plus,  these had siblings.  If those containers don’t hear what happened to the early adoptees, I may be able to secure some more.  In this economy,  many gold marigolds can’t be a really bad investment!

BUT, do I want the tall, spindly sentries?  One flower, glow, fade, dry, all in a row?  No, this setting will take some height, but I want more flowers at once from a well fed root system  (They’re snacking on worm castings as I write.)

After letting them glow overnight because they are so beautiful,  out  came the scissors and off came their little golden blooms.

Now, in an effort to insure survival, they will put forth root and extra branches.   Each branch or stem is a source for a golden head.  IF this works, I should have a great pot of golden marigolds gracing the white wax begonias.

In worst case, I do have a picture.   Thank goodness for digital tools to preserve a view for the future of things that fade in the garden.

Now, to tell them over at the other Garden