Lynn, My Mom always spoke fondly of her Hollyhocks that she had in Iowa. She grew up in Fort Dodge. And her flowers were beautiful! Debbie DeRenard Administrative Assistant/Webmaster -----Original Message----- From: padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lynn Vondran Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 1:47 PM To: padutch-life@rootsweb.com Subject: [PD-LIFE] Hollyhocks Hi Gang, I know that our ancestors were REALly into heirloom gardening, saving seeds from one year to the next for all sorts of gardening_vegetable and flower. Do any of you grow Hollyhocks? I found an order sheet for some beauties from Michigan Bulb and wondered if anyone has tried to grow these, and if it would be worth my while to order them for this area. They are perrennial, at least it seems they are, but then again, the site where I was talks of collecting the seeds from year to year? It confused me. Or is this a way of them coming back year after year, meaning it isn't a root? Thanks! Lynn ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi Debbie! Is Iowa weather kind of like PA's? Or if they can grow in Iowa, do you think they should be able to grow well here in Southeastern PA? Thanks! Lynn Debbie wrote: Lynn, My Mom always spoke fondly of her Hollyhocks that she had in Iowa. She grew up in Fort Dodge. And her flowers were beautiful! Debbie DeRenard Administrative Assistant/Webmaster -----Original Message----- From: padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lynn Vondran Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 1:47 PM To: padutch-life@rootsweb.com Subject: [PD-LIFE] Hollyhocks Hi Gang, I know that our ancestors were REALly into heirloom gardening, saving seeds from one year to the next for all sorts of gardening_vegetable and flower. Do any of you grow Hollyhocks? I found an order sheet for some beauties from Michigan Bulb and wondered if anyone has tried to grow these, and if it would be worth my while to order them for this area. They are perrennial, at least it seems they are, but then again, the site where I was talks of collecting the seeds from year to year? It confused me. Or is this a way of them coming back year after year, meaning it isn't a root? Thanks! Lynn ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I'm having problems with my email these days so I've been losing threads of conversations on the list. I planted Hollyhocks several years ago. They sure are beautiful for a short length of time. However, about half way through blooming time the leaves get a lacey look and then fall off just leaving the flowers and not so pretty bare stalks. Pretty sure they need some insecticide. Hollyhocks will reseed themselves but what a mess I ended up with this year. Apparently I don't cut them down quick enough because next spring there are sprouts everywhere. I left some clumps this year .... no flowers but maybe next spring. If you want them to look nice - research! Although I love them I've vowed to not plant anymore unless I figure out how to take care of them..... otherwise they are way too much work for me. Anyone plant foxglove?? Kathy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Debbie Derenard" <dderenard@coachella.org> To: <padutch-life@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 4:54 PM Subject: Re: [PD-LIFE] Hollyhocks > Lynn, > > My Mom always spoke fondly of her Hollyhocks that she had in Iowa. She > grew up in Fort Dodge. And her flowers were beautiful! > > Debbie DeRenard > Administrative Assistant/Webmaster > > -----Original Message----- > From: padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:padutch-life-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lynn Vondran > Sent: Wednesday, August 22, 2007 1:47 PM > To: padutch-life@rootsweb.com > Subject: [PD-LIFE] Hollyhocks > > Hi Gang, > I know that our ancestors were REALly into heirloom gardening, saving > seeds from one year to the next for all sorts of gardening_vegetable and > flower. > Do any of you grow Hollyhocks? I found an order sheet for some beauties > from Michigan Bulb and wondered if anyone has tried to grow these, and > if it would be worth my while to order them for this area. They are > perrennial, at least it seems they are, but then again, the site where I > was talks of collecting the seeds from year to year? It confused me. > Or is this a way of them coming back year after year, meaning it isn't a > root? > Thanks! > Lynn > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

Oh, as soon as I decided to get the Hollyhocks, and questioned all you friends on the PA Dutch list, I started reading up on them. I've printed out a few things from the Internet, and have the solution to where to put them pretty much figured out, now that I had to change my ideas a bit. But, I think it will work, and it will also keep them under control, too. We have a very tall porch_the guys had to add wood to the pillars they put up today_so the Hollyhocks will add that special something to the front porch, being so tall of a plant, and both sides of the front of the property, too, next year. I believe it would be too late to plant them now, that summer is almost over. I know what you mean by a mess of things, when you don't know about a plant. When we first moved here, I didn't know what a Polk plant was. Well, I found out, and the story is in the archives, but I will tell it anyway. I thought it had beautiful huge leaves, and it was the only thing growing in the garden at the side, when we moved in. Well, I decided to let it grow, and grow, and grow, until someone told me I better get that thing out, or it will be rooted so deeply, and seed the rest of the yard with annoying shoots. Hmmmm, it already had, but I didn't know it until the next year, and the year after that, and after that, 17 times over year after year_I just got finished pulling up the latest crop of Polk. And, the neighbor, 17 years ago, who told me to pull that original one out. wasn't kidding at all !!!! That root was a long as the plant was tall, and it was taller than me, by the time I showed it to the neighbor, and asked if he knew what kind of plant it was. I dug, and dug, and dug, until I couldn't dig any more, and still didn't have all the root. I started pulling, and pulling, until finally the root gave up, and I went flying about 10 feet back, until I came to rest on my rearend!!! I was covered in a pretty fuscia color, too. It was then that the neighbor told me why we have them growing so much in this area. They use to grow them to make dye out of them. Believe me, it took a long time for that color to come out of my skin. Never did get it out of the clothing I was wearing at the time :o) Yes, 17 years, and they are still sprouting up all through the yard, and gardens. I must say they are worse than the Dandelion. Oh, another interesting fact about the Polk plant. I found this out from one of my dear little Mennonite ladies, at Storytime at the home quite a few years ago. I was telling them about my episode with the plant, and she said that her mother use to send them out to pick the young leaves, before the berries showed up, and their mother would cook them to eat? She said that once the berries show up, they are poisonous :o( But, before that, when the plant is young, they are good. Anyone know about this? Well, I decided to do a Google search on it, and sure enough, I found a post by a David in Virginia, at The Recipe Link http://www.recipelink.com/mf/1/1257 and here is what he said about it to Ladonna: "Yes, what you have growing outside your window is a "Tried & True" Polk plant. You described it perfectly! Yes, it is a toxic plant, it contains oxalic acids, and so do other things we eat, such as rhubarb, and eggplant, they are all part of the nightshade family, but, once it's cooked, the toxins are relieved and the end result is fine to eat. Now, to cook polk greens up proper, you need the fresh tender tops of the plants, and you need a lot of them, then just cook them as you would any green. They are delicious. My Granny Church cooked them for years and years (She passed on at 99 years of age), and my momma is still cookin them (at 65)." So what my dear friend told me was known by others, too :o) And, if I can put up with these Polks, I can put up with the Hocks, too :o) :o) Lynn PS I've planted plenty of foxfern, but not foxglove!!! It's an interesting looking plant though, and has another name_Digitalis (sp?), which I know is a heart drug name, also, because my mom's boyfriend had to take it for his heart. Kathy wrote: I planted Hollyhocks several years ago. They sure are beautiful for a short length of time. However, about half way through blooming time the leaves get a lacey look and then fall off just leaving the flowers and not so pretty bare stalks. Pretty sure they need some insecticide. Hollyhocks will reseed themselves but what a mess I ended up with this year. Apparently I don't cut them down quick enough because next spring there are sprouts everywhere. I left some clumps this year .... no flowers but maybe next spring. If you want them to look nice - research! Although I love them I've vowed to not plant anymore unless I figure out how to take care of them..... otherwise they are way too much work for me. Anyone plant foxglove??