The Travels of My Hollyhocks

A long time ago, at least 15 years or so my Mom bought some Hollyhock seeds from England. She planted them in her beautiful garden in Arizona. Now this may seem odd to plant Hollyhocks in the desert but if you plant something in Arizona, especially in the Scottsdale area, you water it and give it sun, it will grow. Add to that some great topsoil, beautiful rose companions and a woman who has one of the greenest thumbs ever and you get a gazillion, tall beautiful Hollyhocks.

When they self seed, you have a lot of volunteers to give away and a lot of seeds. I dug up a lot of these babies and transplanted them into my garden. Then I got volunteers...so you get the picture! These seeds have been given to willing gardeners all over the world. Some of the plants went to my dear friend Sherry, who still lives in Arizona. She gave some to her Mom and she gave some to her friends and on and on until they had travelled far and wide.

Recently she sent me some seeds from those same Hollyhocks and what you see is the first of my plants, and the first one to bloom. And of all days to burst into bloom, it happened on Mother's Day! The original gift from my Mom, to me. To top it all, it is a double pink Hollyhock, my very favorite. Thanks Mother for the legacy of the Hollyhocks, now planted and thriving here in my yard in Texas.!!

If these Hollyhocks could talk what wonderful tales they might be able to tell of thriving and growing with love from continent to continent and from rich earth and loving hands.