Bill Joyce, a writer of children's books, is fascinated by plants and the stories behind them. His garden is a collection of the rare, the mysterious and the common. Here are some of his favorites: Black hollyhock (Alcea rosea 'Nigra') (figure A) is a biennial or a short-lived perennial. Save the seeds after the plants finish flowering to start new plants. Ideally, seeds should be planted in August or September to bloom the following spring. Hollyhocks require full sun and good air circulation to help prevent rust, a fungus disease. Provide a rich, well-drained soil, and keep fallen debris raked up from under the plants. Orange lantana makes an attractive companion to black hollyhock (figure B). Lantana, a tender shrub often grown as an annual, requires full sun and blooms over a long season. Fertilize lightly to prevent lantana from becoming woody. Potato vine (Solanum jasminoides) (figure C) is evergreen in mild climates. Because it grows quickly and has a twining habit, it must be cut back to prevent tangling. It blooms nearly all season but is most prolific in spring. Bill's favorite plants need almost no care and bloom nonstop. Gomphrena (figure D), an annual, is a good example. The flowers may be dried for use in arrangements.
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