One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon-instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.
~ Dale Carnegie
Wild roses are the only ones that grow in my yard. The bushes are in full bloom at this point in the season, attracting bees and some years, providing a secure nesting place for Snowshoe Hares.
A vine of ‘Hagley Hybrid’ clematis clings to the south west corner of the house near the clothesline. Their blooms are numerous and a pleasant greeting whenever I hang clothes out to dry.
Hollyhocks cover much of the west side of the house. My grandfather had a similar arrangement of these flowers in the home where I grew up. I used to help him water them every evening in the summer. I tend to only water them when the tops of the stems curl down a little. The singles are already in bloom and will soon be followed by double blooms of deep burgundy and peach.
Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men and animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident, others are plain, honest and upright, like the broad-faced sunflower and the hollyhock.
~ Henry Ward Beecher
Jessica at The Magical Mundane has also written a post revealing what’s in bloom in her yard this week. This is the time of year when many flowers are at their most luscious in the Northern Hemisphere. What flowers are blooming in your yard today?
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Oh, pretty! I do not garden anymore myself, but I remember how much work it was, and I appreciate the lovely places others create. The hollyhocks in particular are simply lovely.
Not much is blooming in my wild tangle, but I’ll mouse around and see what I can find.
Oooooooooo so pretty. I love the hollyhocks – the deer ate mine last year.
What gorgeous, gorgeous flowers. My grandparents grew hollyhocks, they are an old favorite of mine. The only thing blooming in my yard at the moment is a group of surprise lilies, but they sure are pretty.
Let’s not put off living waiting for that elusive bloom! Let’s live like crazy right now!
These are three flowers I’ve never had in my yard…The Hollyhocks are something I’ve wanted for years.
Now you have inspired me to add my Hydrangea photos to my New England blog!
Sometimes living is a difficult thing to do, but we can always make the most of the good moments and especially appreciate the things we love most… As always, a great piece of blogging!
Gerry, I try to grow things that are as low-maintenance as possible. I think it’s an important consideration as we get older.
JoAnn, maybe that deer knows something about the tastiness of hollyhocks that we don’t. I wonder what a hollyhock salad would taste like?
Thanks waven. I think I can remember every plant that grew in my grandparents’ yard. Isn’t it nice to have floral memories from childhood? Are surprise lilies the same as day lilies?
Uh oh Kathy. Don’t go doing anything crazy. Well, crazier than usual 🙂
Seashellsbymillhill, if you email me your address, I’ll mail you some hollyhock seeds in the fall (amylynnbell@gmail.com). Same goes for anyone else who would like some. Many of my hollyhock plants were started from seed. I’ll look forward to seeing your Hydrangeas.
Surprise lilies look similar to day lilies at the blossom but are more delicate and usually pink. But instead of long, narrow stems and leafy greens at ground level, surprise lilies have very thick, succulent stems and no leaves to speak of at all. There’s a nice photo of the blossom at http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/3754351129_0dbc4d5c00_m.jpg on Flickr.
Thanks for clarifying waven and also for providing an image. They are beautiful.
Beautiful photos. I think my roses are done until fall. They get to hot in the summer and just sit there looking like they are too tired to do more than grow leaves. LOL
The heat has killed off just about everything except the glorious blooms on the “Bears Britches.” They are very upright and have a beautiful scent. I love this plant – it was written about in ancient Rome. It’s rather invasive, but I don’t care – it’s worth keeping an eye on. Also more blossoms on the bush beans! Yummy things to follow…
I just remembered – bears breeches.
Jessica, the roses in my yard seem to bloom later than the ones elsewhere in Cow Bay. Not sure why that is. With all the rain we’ve been having this season, nothing’s had a chance to look too tired but there is quite a bit of discoloration on leaves.
Dawn, I looked up Bears Britches (aka Breeches). I’d never heard of them before. They look a bit like the Lupins that are found along roadsides in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Yes, the best blossoms bear edibles as the summer progresses 🙂
Oh my….what a luscious garden! I can just imagine all those blooms amongst the ivy…the wee ones must love living at your house!
I’d love some hollyhock seeds, Amy – I’ll be in touch. I always have snapdragons in my gardens because of my gramma – she’s the one who showed me how they ‘snap’!
Thank you Cindy. Let me know where to send the seeds. They can be started in the house in the spring and then transplanted outside, but I usually just plant them directly in the dirt.
I have a feeling I’m missing something by never having grown snapdragons.
I loved reading this post and particularly all the back-and-forth comments.
Isn’t it magical how there’s this web-based community of like-minded spirits in different parts of the world, all of whom enjoy learning about Mother Nature and sharing her secrets (and seeds ;-)) with each other?
I think it’s lovely. Thanks, Amy!
I agree Reggie. It IS magical. Nature has so many secrets to share and everyone seems to know a few things that others are oblivious to. The key to understanding it all is in the sharing.
You’ve created a magic paradise right in your back yard.
Thank you Wind. The birds, squirrels and snowshoe hares all seem to think so too 🙂