They Live !!!!!!!

I've given some time before I updated on the hollyhocks so they could grow, bloom and be sure they didn't die off. It was touch and go for a while there when we had an extremely hot and dry July as well as part of June. They finally decided to get buds and open up.

There are several more that have buds but some of those plants are pretty small. All-in-all it was a good experiment and I did have fun with it. Now you know too that you can get the seeds to bloom the same year you plant them if you freeze them for a week first. Even those of you that don't live in a cold winter climate can grow hollyhocks if you want.

Now a picture update of some of the other plants I transplanted/planted this spring.

The lilac has never looked better. It didn't bloom this year but I'm hoping next year there will be an abundance of blooms.

Lilac

The exbury azalea is suppose to bloom and then get its leaves. I had it on the north side of the house so it would get leaves and then bloom while the leaves were still there. It's a deep orange color and should do it the right way next year.

Exbury azalea

These plants are doing very well, although the prunella had a bit of a rough start. When we got it through a mail order catalog it was no bigger than a shot glass. We got a set of 2. The other one is over by the lilac but not in the picture.

Fuchsia, Prunella,(foreground) Birch trees, and Yuccas (background)

This is one of the rose of sharon hedge bushes we got through the same mail order catalog as the prunellas. They are all doing well and I can't wait for their first blooms. It'll be next year though. We got 5 of these and spread them along the bank in the back yard.

Rose of Sharon hedge bush

I'm still working out designs and plans for the patio, pond and fire pit. I've found a few ideas I like but just not sure how to incorporate them here or together. There's always next year.