Hollyhocks, Monmouth

The hollyhocks are flowering in profusion in my part of the world. They are towering over everyone, imposing their large, bright blooms on us, inviting our acclamation. Hollyhocks are popular because they are easy to grow, reappear each year, and make a big, colourful impact. Of course, for many gardeners those qualities can be negatives, particularly where subtlety and a reasonable scale for a small garden are required. However, in a garden that looks after itself because the owners are too busy doing other things they have their place, as appears to be the case in front of this Georgian house in Monmouth, where the local newspaper is produced.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Hollyhocks

Lest the sturdy but ill-fitting door should convince anyone otherwise the owner has fixed a notice to it saying "Private". And, as if to seal the matter, has planted hollyhocks in front of the door. Now hollyhocks are not pyracantha: there are no needle-like spines to deter an intruder. And yet, it must take a particularly heartless interloper to break through a screen of such imposing blooms.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100