Wednesday, January 12, 2011

White 'Crushed Silk' Hollyhock

I sowed some "Crushed Silk" hollyhock seeds last autumn with hope that I can see them growing tall and show me many display of flowers like I see in postcard for cottage garden pictures. But this novice gardener did not realised how long will she have to wait for it to flower or grow. At least 7 months (grown from seed)! Since it is our first attempt at growing them and I strategically don't know which best spot to grow them in our  garden so hollyhock plants were randomly planted in the garden. So this is our only hollyhock plant that is blooming. I guess this is the best spot. At other spot no flower stalk appearing only big green leaves which I have to be careful because hollyhock easily succeptible to rust desease.
I am quite surpise to watch that this plant can stay upright without any assisatance even though it is currently taller than its sunflower neighbours. Can it be because the size of flower make them not heavy like the sunflower flowers.

I like this variety. I usually see only the single layer variety when I walk around my neighbourhood.
I wish the hollyhock plants that I grow along the wall near the living room window can give me a show like this picture I shot at Beerenberg farm. But they just above my knee high. Hollyhock is bienniel, do you think it will bloom in autumn for us ? Or should I give up on them.  They were affected by rust when we had many rains last month but I took out all the affected leaves and now it is healthy green again with many new leaves. I do hope the other hollyhock plant that I planted especially the ones near the living room window will bloom like the picture in the seed packets with different colour of blooms.

I like this hollyhock flower colour that I saw in Beerenberg farm. I spy wether I can get any seed from it but no mostly young buds.
We have 40 degree Celcius during the day almost everyday now and the flowers are finishing their blooms. Time to collect the seeds but where and how, guessing.

The spent blooms.


I am learning how to collect the 'Crushed Silk' hollyhock seeds. Do you think I am correctly collecting the hollyhock seeds? I can't wait to see whether this seeds will germinate or not. I figure if I want it to bloom in spring, I will have to sow the seeds this coming End of March (End summer here).
"SEED WEEK" will be on the 22nd~26th of January 2011 for us to share our own experiences that is related to seeds, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes or cuttings that can be about collecting, propagating,growing them or how to keep them in top shape. It can be submission of an old post or a recent one and not limited to only one post only. In my gardening journey (well not that long yet however I am still novice), I found many joy in collecting the seeds from the one that I have planted to continue the cycle of life and watching them grow again like their parents. It fascinate me how a small seed can contain all the elements to produce such a beautiful living things for us. How like human, the seeds learn to adapt the changes in environment or the hot topic climate change. I hope we all can benefit from sharing our knowledge in this seed week. You can also submit your post earlier to me by mailing me (diana.demiyah@gmail.com) and I link it during the "SEED WEEK". I will randomly choose 5 participants for home saved-seeds give-away. I like to share my home saved-seeds to you:). Thank you I have received some early submissions. From early submissions I think of organizing it like different section for example flower and vegetable section something like that so it will be more easier to browse. I welcome early submission very much :). Open for any suggestion.


Visit Kathleen at Faded Charm the host for White Wednesday.
For Cottage Gardening ideas visit Tracie at Fishtail Cottage: Cottage Flora Thursday.

30 comments:

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

I LOVE Hollyhocks!!!Beautiful job!!!!

JGH said...

Hey there! Hollyhocks are among my favorite flowers, but I've never had much success growing them due to rust, and I've tried both seeds and plants. The "white silk" are just gorgeous!

I'm planning to do a "seed inventory" soon, so I should have a seed week post for you in the next week or two!

One said...

Only one Hollyhocks plant but plenty of beautiful flowers on that single plant. What a beauty!

Autumn Belle said...

I am already dreaming of your lovely Hollyhocks seeds. I have never seen hollyhocks here. I must record down the dateline of this meme.

Nic said...

The one that has flowered so far turned out beautifully! I would not give up on the other ones yet; if they are healthy and producing lots of leaves there is no reason why eventually they would not also flower.

Eliza @ Appalachian Feet said...

Those hollyhocks belong in a bridal bouquet -- so lovely!

Sue Garrett said...

I've never tried growing hollyhocks but your white one is beautiful. I don't think it would stand up so straight in our windy weather though.

Unknown said...

your garden must look amazing!

rainfield61 said...

The different layers of petal display complicated stories, which hollyhocks may make known in Hollywood.

p3chandan said...

Your hollyhocks are gorgeous Diana, although only one is blooming, they really shine!

cinafong said...

I would die to have some of your flowering plants in my garden!

cina

miruku said...

Your hollyhocks are gorgeous, i like the white ones that have many layers the most.

Lrong Lim said...

Very pretty as usual... your range of plants seems very wide indeed...

Fishtail Cottage said...

So beautiful...curious what zone you are in? Please come join my Cottage Flora Thursday's & share this post. I am looking for other gardeners who share the same love for cottage flowers & landscape....hope to see you link up! Thank you for sharing this post....makes me miss my garden this time of year!
xoox
~tracie

Ellie said...

Your hollyhocks are beautiful. They bring pleasant memories from my childhood (in the late 40s). We would take a blooming flower and a bud, and connect them with a toothpick.

Voila! What fun - a pleasant reminder of an uncomplicated time through a child's eyes. Thanks for sharing.

Ellie

Tanya said...

I have told myself this is the year I am going to give hollyhocks a try, myself - Happy White Wednesday - Tanya

Stephanie said...

You have really taken good care of the plant. You are defintely no ordinary novice ok. Your third pic of this hollyhock is amazing! Love the colour and form - soft and pretty. Hollyhock flowers looks like hibiscus don't you think so? But one is a specimen of a cottage garden and the other tropical :-) Btw, 40 degree Celsius is super hot! Hope yourself, your family and your plants are well hydrated ;-)

Malar said...

Your Hollyhock is really lovely! 40DegC? That's too hot!

fer said...

They look beautiful. And must look impressive like a tower of white. Back at my country we have one flower similar. Is very nice to see it blooming in the summer

Makarimi Abdullah said...

So beautiful. I like the white flower.

shannon i olson said...

lovely, I have hollyhocks in my garden as well, but not this variety. In case you get stalks and not flowers do not be discouraged, they are actually a biennial so they bloom every two years so it is good to plant some seed every year until you are well established, that being said the first year I started mine from seed, I actually had some blooms! Enjoy your spring, we are far from that season here!

takaeko said...

Beautiful! But it's sad to see the flowers finished soon due to the heatwave..
Anyway, are your family and friends OK? The flood in your country have been on TV news in Japan.

Lori Lynn said...

Hollyhocks are my favorite! I grew some from seed last year, but too late for them to bloom. I hope they come back!!
*´¨)
¸.*´¸.**´¨) ¸.**´¨)
(¸.*´ (¸.*´* Lori Lynn *

PS: I'm having a 400th post giveaway!!

Infatuated with Homes and Gardens said...

How beautiful ,I have never seen these in Australia before ,I will have to try them!
~Sharon~

Julie Marie said...

Your Hollyhocks are so very beautiful!... I love them, so old~fashioned and always bring back happy memories of days gone by in my great~grandmother's garden... thanks for sharing... xoxo Julie Marie

Fishtail Cottage said...

Thanks for linking up to Cottage Flora Thursday's & sharing your post. I love those white hollyhock! Any chance you save your seeds from that? I have some pink ones & would love to trade with you? xoox
~tracie

Tootsie said...

absolutely lovely!!! thanks for sharing...Hollyhocks are among the favorites for me! I am a new follower...I hope to come again for a visit soon!

Fishtail Cottage said...

Good Morning! Hoping to see you back today for
Cottage Flora Thursday's! xoxo
~Tracie

Silvershadow said...

I love Hollyhocks!!! =D Btw, is there any available in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia? I tried to find, but can't find them..=(

Malay-Kadazan girl said...

Silvershadow~I am not sure whether the seeds are available in Malaysia or not. I still have some of our home-save hollyhock seeds from the first photo. Hollyhock is amazingly heat-tolerant plant, always survived through our extreme heat here that can be more than 40 degree Celsius. The tricky part is to germinate the seeds if you are living in KL. It will need some cool temperature to trigger germination. You might have to keep some seeds in the fridge for several days before sowing it.