Thoughts on Blooming Hollyhocks

When I was a little girl, my grandma had hollyhocks in her garden and I loved to play with the blossoms like they were beautiful ladies in pretty ball gowns.  Knowing of my love for them, my hubby found some at the nursery for me to plant this year. 

These two were planted in the front yard in early June.  The yellow one on the right began to grow tall immediately and after about a month had yellow blossoms all over it. It grew so big we had to cut it way back because it was growing over the sidewalk.  You can see in the picture above that it is trying to grow back again. 

The pink one on the left stayed short for a long time then finally began to get taller and get lots of buds on it.  However, although the stalk was strong and the leaves were large, the buds did not open.  We began to wonder if it would ever bloom.  The pictures below were taken on October 15, a couple of days after it finally began to bloom. The blooms are large and beautiful even though they came so late.  It continues to try.

The two hollyhocks are much like individuals.  Planted in the same ground (or family), some learn early to try to do their best and keep on trying even when they are cut down.  Others are much slower to learn life lessons and after much patience on the part of family, friends, and Heavenly Father, finally realize the potential within.