Postby Harriet » Sat Jun 04, 2022 1:21 pm
I think hollyhocks are so beautiful, Nancy. So different from other flowers, and eye-catching. How tall will yours grow? Do you have to stake them?
blessed's posting in PWYC reminds me I haven't posted about my gardening and yard lately. It's interesting that with the changes in the breeding world of plants lately, we start calling flowers by the trademarked names. They are often more expensive, but if they work, they work, so deserve credit. She has several colors of "Supertunias" and I have 3 others, Bordeaux, Bubblegum and just one white Silverberry.
The point with these is that you are supposed to be able to get credit for them! They can be seen at a distance, so are called "vista" as well. I need this because in this new/old house, people approach on the driveway wrapping around the house's front rather than driving toward the front. The planters/boxes are at the front against the brick of the house, so they really need to "shout" color or no one will know about them! Another door/entrance becomes more convenient then.
I haven't done a perfect job, because I didn't take into consideration that the plants were going to grow to their mature heights at very different speeds. I counted on tall yellow lantana at the back of the most visible bed, and even though it is healthy and blooming, it evidently takes a very long time to grow to its full height of nearly 30 inches, so isn't doing much on the eye-catching work so far. I put (supposedly shorter) blue salvia/sage in front of that thinking the blue spikes would be pretty with yellow behind them. But so far, against the brick you have to get close to get any "credit" for having such pretty blue blossoms, and its bushy-ness is actually covering up the still-short yellow lantana! Opposite to my thought process, but still very pretty once you get close. Perhaps I should have used tall yellow marigolds at rear, even though I would dread the staking.
Happily, the purple and pink petunias around the outside are living up to reputation so far, and bright yellow (although small) dahlia at front is waving! if folks do at least notice those, they'll also have the impression there's more going on in the beds and maybe want to come take a look!