Thursday, August 14, 2008

Jack and the Hollyhock Stalk/ Sky Watch

The weather this summer has been hollyhock-friendly and any Jacks out there wanting to climb sky high can start on the journey NOW because the hollyhocks are reaching for the clouds.
These specimens, flowering in my country gardens as I write, have been "wild" for years. I never have to plant them anymore even though technically they are biennials, meaning they live two years and flower in the second season (sometimes in the first, as well). Hollyhocks are survivors and reseed themselves, even in gardens where I've ripped them out repeatedly. I suspect the seeds have a long "shelf life" or perhaps a sense of humour. What do you think?

69 comments:

dot said...

I think I need to plant some next year. LOL! (I say that every year) They are very pretty tho. How I envy your collage maker!
Very good sky watch post!

Anonymous said...

I haven't seen a Hollyhock in years.
Nice shots.

Anonymous said...

My hollyhocks are gone to seed and cut down. I am looking forward to more next year.

Rune Eide said...

I think it was a very nice collage and a tribute to the plant!

Thank you for the comment!

Pearl Maple said...

Pretty photo for sky watch friday, thanks for sharing all your summer photos celebrating the season.

bobbie said...

Hollyhocks are so lovely! And the contrast against the deep blue sky is perfect.

kjpweb said...

That's a wonderful Skywatch! Gorgeous! Did you get any volunteer Jacks yet?
Cheers, Klaus

Jim said...

Happy Skywatching, Ms. TourGuide! You have found some pretty hollyhocks amongst your blue skies!
We can't grow hollyhocks down here in Texas, we had a lot in Nebraska when I lived there.
Not all skies are pretty as you will see in my Texas unfolding! :-)
..

Carletta said...

These are gorgeous! So pretty against the sky.
My Dad loved these flowers.
The 'Jack' comment was cute.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Wonderful photos! Beautiful hollyhocks and a very good Sky Watch!

Julie said...

They are glorious specimens, EG. They look splendid against the blue of the sky.

Tom said...

I saw 'Jack the Bee.. great Sky Watch and great Hollyhocks.. That sounds rude...;o)

Anonymous said...

Hollyhocks are a favorite of mine and they look so beautiful against the sky.

Maria Verivaki said...

very very pretty -you've inspired me to try to take a photo like this one!

Dewdrop said...

They certainly are reaching for the clouds! Great shot! I love the perspective! Awesome! Beautiful flowers.

Juliana said...

beautiful... What program do you use to collage ur photos? is it CS3?

My SWF : Up and Down Thanks

LiseH said...

How very beautiful!

Michele said...

I love Hollyhock... they bring such special memories to me... these are truly some impressive photos you have done here!
Mountain Retreat

imac said...

Beautiful selection of photos.

Kelly said...

Beautiful flowers! I love Hollyhock, so colorful and lovely with the bright blue sky! Well done!

Anonymous said...

beautiful sky and flowers

Janet said...

Pretty flowers, and they really show up against that blue sky!

Whitney said...

beautiful shots of the hollyhock! and the shots with the blue sky in the back are great! have a good friday!

LingoVise Says... said...

Lovely shots! I need to plant more of these beauties. Terrific close up of the Bumble too!

http://zoliofrope.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Wonderful and Beautiful!

Ramblings of a Villas Girl said...

Absolutely beautiful.

Texas Travelers said...

Great colors and a terrific set of photos.

Beautiful skywatch.

Come visit our Rainbows, Click here.
Troy and Martha

Lilli & Nevada said...

I love hollyhock,Nice sky watch

Unknown said...

A lovely set of images.

Anonymous said...

The hollyhocks reaching for the sky are so beautiful! Wonderful colourful photos!!

judi/Gmj said...

They always have made me giggle. Awesome Sky Watching!

Jane Hards Photography said...

My Toughts, just simply gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Wild or not..those are beautiful and pity people ain't growing in their yards. They're all lovely sights!

Anonymous said...

I think I'd like to be small enough to climb that stalk. What great photos and great take on the composition.

Arija said...

What glorious hollyhocks, just perfect against the deep blue sky.

CaBaCuRl said...

Amazing colours in the flowers. Spotted any Jacks yet??

Louise said...

I'm not sure if it is a sense of humor. Maybe they just know they are so pretty we want to see them!

Great post.

Raven said...

You make the best collages. Just lovely. I love the pictures in the one just below this too.

Gretchen said...

Very good shots. The bee one is my favorite and I don't like those critters. One sting and I end up in the ER!

Rambling Woods said...

That brought a smile to my face...

Aisha said...

You have really beautiful shots for SW!

Small City Scenes said...

All your flowers are gorgeous and these Hollyhocks that bloom every year for you are stunning. Pointing right up to that beautiful blue sky.
I am home again. MB

Anonymous said...

Wonderful series of floral shots. Great photography!

Anonymous said...

I love hollyhocks and yours are just splendid.

Kyanite said...

Lovely!
I certainly agree about them re-reseeding but I do believe the strain eventually wears it's self out, as that's what's sadly happened to some of mine.
Time to re-seat with new stock.

Dirkjogt said...

Indeed the hollyhocks seem to reach to the sky. The flowers in front and the clouds on the background, this give a dimension to your picture. Well done!
Dirkjogt, Belgium

Dirkjogt said...

Indeed the hollyhocks seem to reach to the sky. The flowers in front and the clouds on the background, this give a dimension to your picture. Well done!
Dirkjogt, Belgium

Anonymous said...

beautiful!!
have a nice weekend!

Minkydo said...

Beautiful. I need to plant some Hollyhocks next year.

My SWF post

magiceye said...

loved your invitation to the jacks and of course it is a lovely collage!

Do check out my Independence Day SkyWatch post here

Gemma Wiseman said...

These pics are so ALIVE with colour! Absolutely awesome!

Darla said...

Send seeds!

Darla

Ellyn said...

Great back drop for lovely flowers.

Shammickite said...

Perhpas I should come up to your place and get some seeds for next year!

Maria said...

I also have not seen hollyhocks for a very long time. I saw them last when I was on vacation in Denmark a very very long time ago where we lived in a former wind mill, with hollyhocks growing beside the door.
As the garden was wild, I think the hollyhocks there were not planted but re-seeded themselves.
So beautiful pictures! And nice memories!

Rose said...

These are wonderful...

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

EG: Cool shots of the Hollyhocks, they are quite beautiful in the Sky.

Sue Seibert said...

Absolutely beautiful photos! Holly hock is just about my favorite flower. Thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Lovely flowers! I love gardening but we have limited space in the backyard...

By the way, my SWF is up as well. Hope to see you there.

Have a great weekend!
Nita

Baruch said...

Love your Hollyhock sky. Well done!

Barbara said...

Your hollyhocks are beautiful, mine have suffered from all the rain we have had and are not so good this year. I also find they pop up all over the place.

SandyCarlson said...

Those are wonderful! What a beautiful flower. Like Dot, I've put them on my list for next year.

Kathie Brown said...

Oh, I just love these photos! I miss growing hollyhocks, which require a lot of water for the Southwest. How nice to see them on your blog. They are beautiful! What a great view. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Lara said...

there is no other word than beautiful! the flower match so well the blue sky!

Kahshe Cottager said...

I am hoping to have the hollyhocks spread in my meadow garden. These are lovely and they are indeed reaching for the beautiful blue sky!

My Sky Watch Photos are posted Here and Here

Mary said...

they are so beautiful! They remind me of my Italian grandfather, who always had some in his garden. :)

dlyn said...

I LOVE hollyhocks - these are great shots!

Kerri Farley said...

Oh, these are beautiful! I need to plsnt some of these!!

Flotte Moehne said...

Sorry, I’m a little late because I was sailing this weekend.
So I stop by and say thank you for a nice SWF.
Hard job to visist all SWF this week, I like to rest a little bit with your flower and sky SWF.

Friends who encourage me

Blog Archive

About Me

My photo
East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.