Tall, Majestic Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks are perennial plants that sometimes grow so tall, one has to look upward to see where they end.

They come in many colors but the deep cranberry is extra special.

They love bright sun and are very easy to grow.

They are known in the Japanese culture.

Did you know they date all the way back to the Crusades?

According to information found on the Internet, hollyhocks have been used to make a salve that was "good for the Crusaders' horses which were injured on their hind legs, or 'hocks.' "

These lovely plants would look great in any English garden or, for that matter, any countryside garden. 

The ones shown in this post are in my daughter's garden and is one of dozens of flowers she grows.

The flowers are also in the Mallow family, according to information written on them.  

Other Mallow family flowers are cotton, hibiscus, okra, and marsh mallow.

Hollyhocks look a little wild but are quite unique and beautiful.

It's a joy to sit near them and watch hummingbirds take sugary sips  from a feeder.

Hip, hip hurray for hollyhocks!

HAVE YOU EVER GROWN HOLLYHOCKS?

Candle Warming Lamp

 

Living in a small rented apartment, it is highly suggested to refrain from burning candles.

Doing so can cause the white ceilings to become black!

Because of absolutely loving the scent of candles,  thoughts of buying a candle warming lamp started to fill my mind.

It was a great joy to find a variety of those kind of lamps lining a couple of shelves at Marshall's. 

One with a pretty scalloped glass top turned out to be my fave. 

It can be set at two hour use or more and then it automatically shuts off.

 It sits on a light colored wood base. 

So far, it's a little disappointing because I don't smell much fragrance unless the nose is very close to the melting candle wax.

Maybe this will change as the top of the candle keeps melting?

Will scent ever fill a room?

Does anyone know the answer?

The little lamp was not cheap for my budget so I'm not so sure it was a good decision to buy it but hope springs eternal.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY EXPERIENCE WITH CANDLE WARMING LAMPS? IF YES, WOULD YOU PLEASE SHARE?

July 4th Photographic Memories

 

July 4th, 2026, is now a memory.

A wonderful parade in cooler temps brought hundreds of onlookers to the streets of a New England city in Western Massachusetts.

Fife and drum corps are among favorites in any parade.

There's something about their music and booming drums that sets the heart beating fast and furious.

The parade brought smiles to many faces and remains one of the holiday's best memories.

Today Writing Straight from the Heart is sharing some photos from the Fourth of July parade.  

Enjoy!

Fourth of July

Today is the Fourth of July in the United States.

It's Independence Day and a federal holiday so no banking, library visits, and many other businesses not operating as usual.

July Fourth focuses on celebrating the Declaration of Independence on this date in 1776.  

A total of 13 American colonies, at that time, cut their ties with Great Britain, thereby creating the beginning of the United States of America.

There will be parades across the country.

People will be celebrating.

There will be flag waving, barbecues, and picnics.

It is a day to remember, for sure, and also to celebrate, and to be thankful for.

The Blessing of Flowers

One of the best parts about going to a Trader Joe's specialty food store is looking at the gorgeous flowers they always have.

The prices are not bad, either.

The sign at the top of this post hangs on a wall above a vast array of blooms in every color, shape, and fragrance.

This takes place in a  Trader Joe's in Albany, New York.

Ohhhh, the roses are supburb, as are the pink peonies, and all the rest of the exquisite flowers, as well. 

Thanks, Trader Joe's!   

Being constantly curious, the thought of who Luther  Burbank, a name at the bottom of the sign, happened to be. 

According to Wikipedia, Burbank worked as a botanist, horticulturiswt, and pioneer in agricultural science for 55 years. 

Born in 1849, in Lancaster, Massachusetts, he grew up on a farm and was the 13th of 15 children.

He moved to California where he spent his entire career.  He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants, working primarily with fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables.

He died in April of 1926 in Santa Rosa.  

Now, one of his quotes hangs on a plaque, hung on the wall, above beloved flowers, in a Trader Joe's in Albany, New York.