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Wednesday, July 11, 2012

gangling beauties

The worst drought in 50 years has brought an unexpected loveliness to our garden: hollyhocks.
Most years, they go by as part of the general chorus.

This year, they have stepped into the spotlight of sun, taking their place at centre stage.
They wear costumes of all colours, and are beautiful wherever they choose to stand...in unexpected places...in the middle of gardens, against walls, and wherever their seeds fell last fall.

They distract from the weeds that overtake much of the gardens, and bestow their colour and beauty on all who see them.

Hollyhocks. Tall, gangling beauties that call to mind a garden of a century ago in England. Their grace and showy loveliness brighten my garden, and my day.

4 comments:

  1. I love hollyhocks. I have been admiring them in my neighbors' gardens on my evening walks. They are regal, aren't they?!
    have a great week
    lisa

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  2. I love hollyhocks and remember my mom showing me how to make hollyhock dolls. If you have never done it, it's fairly simple: pick two hollyhock flowers, with a bit of stem. Take one stem off and hollow out a little hole. I can't remember how we did it, maybe a fork or sharp pencil? Then put the stem of the other flower into the hole you have created. One flower is the skirt and the other is the head and hat. We drew small eyes and a mouth on them.

    I have another fond memory of impressing a boy in college with this. :)

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  3. They are so lovely! My grandmother grows them as well, and they're always striking -- even more so now that the rest of the gardens have turned to dust.

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