The Summer Begins

This summer's garden is turning out to look pretty good and it's not yet turned into the chaos that it has become in previous years. I am most proud, so far, of the hollyhock, the first picture you see here. Apparently, it's a feature of the traditional English Garden. It has an unusual growing pattern. I planted it from seed last Spring and it grew into a smallish bush. This year its sprouts came up fast, then it shot up to six feet tall pretty quickly, and started blooming a few days ago. After that, the blooms will fall, and I think the plant won't return again. Gardening guides that I read on in the internet suggest that the ideal time to plant them is really in the Fall. I love the way it looks against the wall, and want to do another one next year.