Friday, July 6, 2012

Hollyhocks


I really must get on with hunting for a new camera, then I could show you how pretty I find the opening hollyhock buds.


When I was a little girl, my mother had hollyhocks growing against the wall of our home, just as they grew in the walled gardens of monasteries centuries ago.
 


I planted a few last year and waited until this one for the plants to bloom. 

All is not beauteous in the garden, as something is making holes in the leaves. 

There's a little research project for me, unless you might have an idea and a remedy.



Meanwhile, I'll choose to focus on the pink and red blooms.

 For those on Facebook:    
On "Feature Your Photo: Friday on Facebook" you are invited to post one original photo (and your blog link) on My Little Home and Garden's Facebook page.    
 Everyone is welcome.

I'm linking with the "Cottage Garden Party" at Fishtail Cottage.


35 comments:

  1. Oh these are so pretty. I have to laugh, when we first bought a house way back when I sas younger ahem a big weed kept coming up and I kept yanking it - finally left it alone to discover the most beautiful hollyhock.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your hollyhocks are so pretty, Karen. Something is eating holes in the leaves of mine too. I'm thinking it might be the earwigs as they are pretty bad this year. I did get some powder for killing bugs on flowers and vegetables. I don't know if it has stopped them yet or not.
    And I'm with you about hunting for a new camera.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Every year I see others beautiful hollyhocks and think why have I never grown them.. Seeing yours makes me once again wonder ..lol They are lovely holes or not. I have more bugs this year than ever before. I'm chalking it up to no winter and praying for some deep freezes this year.. Now remind me about February I asked for it..lol
    hugs and happy weekend, Cherry

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beautiful pink hollyhocks. I also like the colorful turtle. I think your photos are great. xo

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the shade of your hollyhocks. They look like watermelon pink to me. Very pretty against the fence. I remember my mil's hollyhocks has ugly worms on them right in the blooms one year. We have earwigs here and they are just starting to appear. They will chew holes in plant leaves. I hope you have an enjoyable weekend. Pamela

    ReplyDelete
  6. Es sind wunderschöne Blumen, in solcher Vielfalt an Farbe und sehr anspruchslos...

    Lieben Geuß
    CL

    ReplyDelete
  7. I believe everyone has access to an infinite stream of creativity... it's just our thinking and our attitude that limit it ;)
    Big hugs! ... YOU. ARE. creative!
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your hollyhocks are absolutely beautiful, Karen! I was so happy to see them in the sunshine there. I have a few here but only in bud, and in the rain too!
    Wishing you a wonderful sunny weekend.
    Helen x

    ReplyDelete
  9. It could be hollyhock rust, caused by a fungus on the leaves. Seems that you hardly see hollyhocks without those holes in the leaves. There could be little caterpillars or beetles eating the leaves, or the hollyhock weevil.
    Mine are in bloom now as well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Your hollyhocks are really pretty, Karen. I especially like the second photo. My hollyhocks got rust (yellow bumpy spots on the leaves) last year due to a very wet spring. Now, a year later, the ones that came back from last year and the new ones I started from seed have rust too. It must live over in the soil. I did plant some in a new location so hopefully next year I'll have healthy hollyhocks again.
    xo Beth

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Karen
    Definitely earwigs for the holes but at least you have flowers! Weevils have attacked mine and almost all the buds fell off. My husband said the plants look terrible and weedy so they may have to go.
    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those are lovely flowers and I really love that colourful turtle you have too :)) Good luck with the bug eaten leaves.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, I love hollyhocks! So charming. We don't have any but do have Lavatera which is a close relation. What a shame about the holes in the leaves.

    Thanks again for your visit!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't grown hollyhocks for years - the last time was in Kingston, where they grew alongside the back of the house. I loved them! We have lavatera in the garden here, and it gives a similar 'feeling'.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi, Karen! Your Hollyhocks are gorgeous :o) Love them too :o) They give to the garden an old fashioned look. Aren`t they?
    Kisses
    Natasha

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love those hollyhocks they always look so great

    ReplyDelete
  17. Beautiful hollyhocks! Lovely colours. I stopped growing them for the same reason, leaves almost web-like with holes. A shame because they can be show-stopping!

    ReplyDelete
  18. These are so beautiful! My grandmother used to grow these and seeing yours brought back many memories for me. Thank you! I didn't get to participate yesterday in your photo day on Facebook. I'll try to remember next week. But my photos are nothing compared to yours!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Beautiful photos ! I love hollyhocks and used to have some...I should grow them again!

    Holes in leaves all over the place here ( western PA )

    Finally got some Sevin Plant dust ( recommended by several people around here ) and put that on about 2 weeks ago. Left it on for a day or two and sprayed it off. Less holes now :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have just nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award!! Check out the information on my blog. Congratulations!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hollyhocks are one of my favorite. They always remind me of my Dad who planted them around our barn when I was growing up. Thanks for the reminder! Jean

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi, I'm BlueShell...
    Thanks for your words in Portuguese! Yes it made sense! Thank you.

    Hollyhocks...I do not have those in my yard...but the photos are lovely!
    Hugs, and God bless you!

    ReplyDelete
  23. The hollyhocks are beautiful! Such pretty colors. Enjoy your weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Very pretty! I may have to try growing them. I love the turtle also.

    ReplyDelete
  25. It seems we have the same taste when it comes to flowers :) I don't have any hollyhocks but I plan on buying some next year. I love your last photo of them against the fence, it has such a nice country feel :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. you are the second garden friend that i have visited this week that has shared your gorgeous hollyhocks - what is your secret to keeping not only the flowers so happy, but the foilage as well? no rust on yours?xoxo, tracie

    ps - thank you for sharing over at this weeks garden party!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I absolutely LOVE hollyhocks. We have two, and I am eagerly awaiting their blooms. The Japanese beetles have done a number on their leaves, though.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I absolutely adore hollyhocks. And do not at the moment have any. But I've got it on my list! I love my camera. You can go to my pages for a description if you want.
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  29. I just love your Hollyhocks! I haven't had much luck growing them, but will enjoy yours.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Just found your blog thru Brenda's Cozy Little House blog today. I want to thank you for making it available thru Yahoo! I just signed up.

    ReplyDelete
  31. They are beautiful! All is not perfect in my garden either. I have a little plastic tub half-filled with wintergreen alcohol and when I find a muncher, into the tub he goes with a flick of the lid. Oh it's a disgusting business it is.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love hollyhocks. ... remind me of my Granny. Love the colorful turtle too!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...