Canna, I was in the middle of a few things when I suddenly realized I never answered your question. I just lightly buried the hollyhock seeds in a peat/sand/perlite mix at about 1/4 inch depth or so. Then just toss them under the dome I seem to always have in my veg room, I'm sure a window would work fine with some of that clear wrap over as well. Sorry I missed it! See I do forget things while the pics upload quite often. Like how you had me looking through a clover patch...
There has been a few other things as well, funny thing is I have an excellent memory, seems to more photographic though.
Radogast, they usually do leave but we at least see them monthly fluttering from tree to tree singing. Of course the hawks and eagles come out as well, so could be something to that.