Re: deadheading/ now Catching seeds

Nan - I too loose my hollyhocks every summer and I too only supply my garden 
(sun) with a limited amount of water as we seem to have a drought every 
summer.  I've even tried not letting them go to seed and cutting them back 
and that hasn't worked for me either.

Now - one thing that is different about where I am vs. Southern Cal. in the 
cooler nights offered to you from the Pacific Ocean.  Mine do survive 
throught the fall (when I plant them) and through any winter condition my 
area has to offer but I have never been able to successfully keep through the 
summer.  

The 1st year I planted them I planted three under a shade tree which looses 
their leaves in the winter.  My plants faired fine there also during the 
cooler months...I did not get the height or the profusion of blooms like the 
ones I've had in full sun conditions but they too died by the 
mid-summer...whether lack of sun or the heat I do not know.

My beds are all raised--about 6 inches of sand on bottom and about 6 inches 
of a compost mix on top and fully dressed with cypress mulch (about 3 inches).

Any help/pointers you can provide in getting me through the heated summer 
months would be greatly appreciated.

One of my best mistakes one year was black hollyhocks in the back fronted by 
white/pink/purple larkspur and Irish Eyes Rudbeckia all blooming together in 
May and a few Love-in-the-Mist scattered throughout.....I've never been able 
to reproduce that mistake and I try every year.....they never want to bloom 
at the same time.

Now - the larkspur are out of bloom, love-in-the-mist are just starting and 
the hollyhocks and rudbeckia haven't even budded.  Maybe one day I will once 
again be blessed with that wonderful combination all in bloom at the same 
time....we can only hope.

Kemberly McLain
Katy, Texas  Zone 9

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