Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks

I love Hollyhocks I said, So, go get you some. Put them anywhere you want. Just let me know where you plant them so I won’t think they are weeds.

They are the wonderful memories of walking with my grandmother and having her pluck first the delicate bud-head with its colorful French twist updo. She would pull the green leaves hiding the sweet fairy face; Two eyes and a snippet of a nose would be revealed.  Then we would find the most wonderful ball gown for our doll.  All would be transformed into a friend, a dance partner, a memory of being special to my Grandmother. I love Hollyhocks.

Worried that they may get pulled while small and weak and unable to be identified as special I skipped the seeds and bought Hollyhock plants; I dug and planted my Hollyhock stalks knowing that I wanted to be that kind of a grandma to my girls. I was planting memories. I was nourishing the times I would walk there with my granddaughters and transform these plants into Hollyhock dolls to dance and play with. To laugh and giggle together as we were creating memories. I planted them around the gazebo so we could find them easily. This is a special place.  They will be safe here. I love my Hollyhocks.

What is said one day is not always true the next. These Hollyhocks are in the way. I need this space for something more important to me. You can always plant more somewhere else. But, I love my Holly hocks. The girls didn’t come over in time to dance and play with them. Even if I did replant them, that space will become inconvenient and my Hollyhocks, that I love, will be in the way.

So I moved to a new garden. Oh, you love Hollyhocks? Here, I bought you seeds. Plant them anywhere you want. You may never know, sweet friend, what this means to me. It means you heard me. It means you value my needs. It means you will enjoy my company long enough to watch these Hollyhocks grow and blossom and be plucked by little hands so they can dance around the garden. They will love Hollyhocks.

Just in case, I laid down red caution tape; signifying something special is growing here. These tender leaves aren’t unwanted and don’t need to be pulled and tossed away. But, if you need this space in the future, that’s OK with me too. You saw me, you nurtured me, and you give me hope for the future. I can plant my Hollyhocks wherever I go now. I can create memories. I hope my Hollyhocks live here and memories are formed here because I love Hollyhocks.