2006-07-08 02:37:18 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Because outhouses are ugly and the hollyhock does it's darndest to make it look a little less ugly. I have them in my yard for the first time and I just love them.
2006-07-08 06:46:43 · answer #1 · answered by jeffypuff 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some varieties of Holly Hocks have been around for years and years. The seeds of the Holly Hock are found bulb of faded flower heads. Each bud contains several seeds and can produce dozens more of these plants. Each stalk of the Holly Hock has several flowers. Because there are so many blooms hundreds of plants can be grown from just one stalk of each plant. I would assume that because there were so many seeds that the seeds were shared amongst friends and family. Any seeds left over were probably thrown around the outhouse.
Holly Hocks grow to several feet tall and it would be a great plant to grow around an old ugly outhouse. They would decorate and even hide an old building. The plants will come back year after year which is an added bonus.
2006-07-08 02:56:50 · answer #2 · answered by bethany g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would seem logical to me,,, coming from being raised on a farm, with an outhouse on site, that most people who had/have one, probably want to hide it in some way.
Hollyhocks, among other plants, are tall, usually full in season, and grow well in the soil often surrounding an outhouse.
Anyone who truly has an outhouse/backhouse, should know that occasionally the should be moved, and reset over a freshly dug pit. Then I guess some type of plant life would be added again to help hide the structure, and help keep it from being offensive.
Rev. Steven
2006-07-08 02:49:18 · answer #3 · answered by DIY Doc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hollyhocks are an old traditional favorite flower. When the flower dies off a seed pod is formed. When it dries it burst open and reseeds itself. It is very drought tolerant and low maintenance.
I live in a mobile home park and it seems like almost every home has hollyhocks. When I moved in I gathered some seed pods and planted them along my fence. Wow, what a show they put on when blooming!
So I guess the older homes had planted some and they keep reseeding themselves. They will grow even if you don't water them. Mother Nature is all they need!
2006-07-08 02:51:12 · answer #4 · answered by d.a.f.f.y. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are few main reasons that i think can explain this.
1. they like well drained soils and usually the pit to an outhouse would ensure water drainage away from the roots and to the pit.
2. they reseed themselves.
3. they also reach a height of 4-6' which provides a visual barrier.
4. they add to the appearance with their beautiful blooms and also their natural aroma that can help hide the outhouse smell.
2006-07-08 03:33:57 · answer #5 · answered by jollycrapper 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hollyhocks were a favorite flower years ago. They were tall flowers so were sometimes used to "conceal" things.
They are perennials that come up every year and bloom constantly.
It is a shame they seem to have fallen out of favor. The hollyhocks I mean - not the outhouses.
2006-07-08 02:49:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I planted a holly hock next to my new neighbors. To hide their weedy yard.
2006-07-08 02:57:44 · answer #7 · answered by theohiolutes25 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because they were planted there
2006-07-08 02:41:26 · answer #8 · answered by aussie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋