August 13, 2011

Pure Magenta.

Ever since I was a little girl, my dream has been to live in a small cottage, somewhere in a beautiful countryside.
So far I have to admit to have lived in beautiful places and in beautiful surroundings, but the cottage dream is still only a dream.

I have always loved the romantic images of low, aging, thatched-roofed dwellings with semi-wild gardens, those that give a feeling of abundance and unrestricted growth, hidden from view. And full of hollyhocks.

Called a stokrose in Danish, which translate something like a rose on a stick, these beautiful flowers adorn the outside walls of many farms and cottages up here North, creating a living, colourful hedge. They can be found in many colours, anything from white and yellow to pink, magenta and deep red.

Once again, just like in the spring, when I realized that lilacs bloom in the garden of my new home, this summer a beautiful Hollyhock adorned outer walls of the house - another signs send by the heavens, reassuring me to stay on the path I have taken.
Thus until I one day indeed live in a cottage, this stunning beauty of pure magenta brings that dream somewhat closer.

33 comments:

Jerry said...

Your dream would be mine if the cottage were located in the mountains next to a bubbling brook. But I never stopped to consider how much flowers must be part of the dream. You are a dream enhancer. Did you know that?

lilybets said...

....me too.I love flowers and houses between nature and animals...my dream is to live in a little white cottage without barriers with nature.Have a nice week.

Brian Miller said...

smiles. i hope that one day you get that dream, but until then sounds like you are right on track witha new dream...lovely pics zu

Anonymous said...

Hi Zuzana,
LadyCat and I enjoy flowers too. There are so many varities and they are free to enjoy! :)
All of we romantics dream of our little cottages next to the "Secret Garden"... LadyCat and I have found our little corner of the world. Hopefully, someday soon we'll have our "Secret Garden".
Have a great weekend. We are going to the Stephen Foster Musical today in Bardstown, KY which is on the grounds of My Old Kentucky Home where he composed the song. The home was not his, but a friend's where he often visited and so he wrote the song about it.

Elizabeth said...

We'd never discussed stokrose but I adore stokrose and tried to grow them. But with my green fingers it was another project going nowhere. Still, I always pause when I see them because they are so gorgeous.

Enjoy your weekend, I'll see you monday.

trump said...

greetings from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa. Richard from Amish Stories.

Kath said...

What a delicious colour! I have some yellow ones here and will always think of them as a "rose on a stick" from now on :-D

Sandy said...

I love your hollyhocks Zuzana! Sorry I haven't been visiting as often this summer. My blog reading has fallen off and I miss you. I was surprised to read that you are relocating to another part of Denmark. You must write and tell us all about it. Maybe you can find an adorable little cottage to live in. We've had company for a few days, one of my Hubby's twin brothers is here. It's been so nice to see him. Too many miles between us and our loved ones. Have a lovely day.

adrielleroyale said...

Oh such beauty - it seems to follow you wherever you go! I suppose it helps too that you are able to see it, appreciate it and then capture it AND share it...what a wonder you are! :)

Dan said...

They're beautiful - what a colour! Will you still live close to the sea in your new home Zuzana?
Dan
-x-

Anonymous said...

Such vibrant flowers - they shout: LIFE and LIVE!

Bossy Betty said...

So beautiful! Love the colors. I did not appreciate flowers when I was younger but I am making up for it now!

Gail said...

Beautiful...I believe we call that a Hollyhock. They come back every year and also reseed.

Anonymous said...

Oh I too, love Hollyhocks! A lovely old fashioned flower.

So happy that you found this kind-of-an-affirmative-sign, there at your new home.

Mmmmm, I too would love a cottage. I won't have one, but I hope you DO! It would warm my heart.

Gentle hugs...

Rajesh said...

Very lovely flowers. I think, I might have seen similar flowers.

steviewren said...

I'm so happy that you have a new garden to discover and love!

I threw out some wildflower seeds last year and was rewarded with one giant hollyhock which I enjoyed watching. This year I have yellow daisy-like flowers.

sprinkles said...

I love your collage!

Myrna R. said...

It's nice to dream, but also to enjoy what we can of our current reality. I have a feeling you're doing just that.

Beautyful flowers to keep your dreams alive.

Mimi said...

Love those flowers, in any colour, but it magenta they are gorgeous, and speak of an extended summer!

Hilary said...

Funny.. I've been thinking about hollyhocks lately and wishing to have some, myself. I'm glad you found yours.

Margie said...

Dear Zuzana, I love holyhocks! Had them in my front yard when growing up.
They remind me of my mom as she loved them so and I know that is why I love them also.
Beautiful collage and may all your dreams come true! xo

Unknown said...
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Donna said...

Beautiful, Zuzana. I love hollyhocks too...I'm happy you found yours.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

beautiful images and words of your beautiful new life beginnings! congratulations on all! ;)

Betsy Brock said...

We always had hollyhocks in our yard when I was a child. They are gorgeous! What a wonderful surprise to have them greet you this summer in your new home! :)

A Lady's Life said...

I also like to see good signs and you seem to have found many
to please you.
All systems go.

A Plain Observer said...

that flower is indeed beautiful. I am sure if just a beauty bloom in my garden I would find a way to over water it or dry it to its demise. I have such a way with plants and flowers...

Anonymous said...

I love holly hocks...they are so beautiful. As a child, we would turn the flower upside down and it would be the beautiful dress of a lady. And magenta was my favorite color as a youngster.
We had many wonderful flower surprises in the yard of our new home this spring. We moved in during the winter, so diddn't know what flowers we would have. We were pleasantly surprised when we had beautiful blooms of pink & red roses, lilacs and peonies.
I think all romantics dream of a cottage, but when we find the right place it is heaven on earth.

Stickhorsecowgirls said...

I love hollyhocks--they have such happy, cheerful faces turned to the sunshine. I've never grown them before, and my yard is so shady, I'm not sure I can find a place to plant them, but maybe someday!
Have a lovely week!

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Beautiful flower...beautiful color!

Anonymous said...

Zuzana, I hope one day you will realize your dream of living in a cottage. I would be content anywhere near water and mountains. I love the magenta hollyhocks....gorgeous!

Zuzana said...

Jerry, Lilybets, Brian, Tom, Elizabeth, Amish Stories (welcome), Kath, Sandy, adrielle, Dan, ladyfi, Betty, Gail, auntie, Rajesh, Stevie, sprinkles, Myrna, Mimi, Hilary, Margie, Donna, J, Betsy, Lady, Myriam, Ladycat, C or V and Jill – so glad to hear so many of you know and love Hollyhocks.;)
They do certainly instigate a feeling of country romance.;)

To those of you who asked, also in the previous post – I do still live in the proximity to the ocean, the North Sea this time, a rough and untamed body of water. And Batcat has relocated with me and is enjoying getting used to our new home. I will be posting about both subjects in the very near future.;)

Thank you all for your wonderful words,
Xoxo
Zuzana

Zuzana said...

Thank you Rosie, for your visit and very kind words. Glad you like my magenta beauties.;)
xoxo