Hollyhock Envy

No price is set on this lavish summer;

June may be had by the poorest comer.

-James Russell Lowell

Seeds of Promise

There is a garden in every childhood, an enchanted place where colors are brighter, the air softer, and the morn more fragrant than ever again . . . .anonymous

For me, that garden was in an alley !

Hollyhocks, they were the best thing to happen to the alleyways behind my house, and they seemed to grow there in spite of soil hard as concrete,  gravel, the heat and exhaust from the rumbling garbage trucks, and constant neglect.  I never wondered why they were there, I just waited with joyful childhood anticipation every summer, and when they unfurled their tissue silken petals, I was ready  to play

I'm  never satisfied, no matter how many wonderful things are happening in my garden, I always want more!
There are a few flowers I covet, have loved forever, and yet I can't seem to get them to stick around. So when I saw the tall,  bright pink hollyhocks in bloom in my neighbor's garden this morning , the envy set in immediately.

I had them once upon a time -  I have pictures to prove it - but they moved away,  I wonder why?

Hollyhocks were meant to be playthings for little girls
blooms plucked to make dolls in floaty dresses for tea parties on the lawn

The wedding party is almost ready . . . .now, where are those toothpicks?  The white one will be the bride, the pink and yellow ones the maids, we can float them in the birdbath . . . . 

Yay for May!

Where did it go, that sweet soft month of May, I want to hold on to the colors and the smells forever . . . .

MAY DAY MORNING

Oh lets leave a basket of flowers today

For the little old lady who lives down our way

Well heap it with violets white and blue

With Jack-in-the-Pulpit and wildflower too

We’ll make it of paper and line it with ferns

Then hide and we’ll watch her surprise when

She turns

And opens her door and looks out to see

Who in the world it could possible be

Virginia Scott Mike

Have you ever made a May Basket for someone else, or received one yourself?  If so, you wont forget the experience!

The happy children know it’s spring;

Then forth their little baskets bring,

And go abroad a-flowering

By twos and threes from home they stray,

And in the meadows green they play;

They choose a little Queen of May,

And crown her curls with blossoms gay.

And when at dusk they straggle home

 With flower-laden arms they come,

With roses on the cheeks abloom,

While in their hearts bird carols hum.

And when asleep they lie at night,

Their  little springtime dreams are bright,

With birds and buds and joy and light,

And all the wealth of green delight.

And this is why the tough of spring,

When blossoms blow and sweet birds sing,

Such very happiness doth bring,

It sets their heart a-caroling.

From Fresh Posies by Abbie-Farwell Brown

Houghton and Mifflin Co 1908

 . . .and the flowers of May are plentiful and fragrant beyond belief!

A time to gather violets and sweet woodruff to make a May wine bowl

But nowhere is May more fragrantly and artistically celebrated than in France, especially Paris, 

where the Muguet (Lily of the Valley) appears 

everywhere from May Day and on . . . .

 In the Candy Shops

the flower shops

and in my favorite tea room 

Its true, the greens will never be more luminous and fresh, the flowers more fragrant,

 and the morning dew so jewel-like. 

Spring gives way to summer, 

and May becomes a memory . . . .until next year.