I've known about Hollyhock Lane for years. I've even gone out of my way to drive down the lane and I fully intended on stopping by at one time with my camera - I just hadn't done it yet.
When Annie Froese told me it was in spectacular bloom this year, I took another drive by and realized this was the year to shoot it.
I had seen Herb Froese tending to it from time to time but I really didn’t know much about the story of how Hollyhock Lane came about so I did some checking…
that is where this blog begins.
Hollyhock Lane is not a name that will appear on any town map. It’s informally been called that since 2004 but its story began before that when the Froese’s rescued some hollyhock plants and gave them a home in their garden.
It was not long before the plants began migrating.
After all, over the course of hundreds of years, hollyhocks had already traveled all the way from China to the Middle East, on to Europe and across the Atlantic to finally arrive in Canada. Of course, mankind helped them along the way, much like Herb and Annie do now.
As the hollyhocks moved out of the garden into the alley Herb kept an eye on them, encouraged them and tended them when needed.
Herb trims them down in the Fall and clears the old stalks away but before that, he gives the stalks a good shake to release seeds and encourage their growth the following year.
Mother Nature provides the moisture they need so some years may be lean and some bountiful. This year is bountiful!
You have to know where to find Hollyhock Lane, it’s name is not on the new directional signs scattered around town. So if you don't already know, go to Art & Soul Gallery and head north up the alley. You can't miss it - unless it's winter when the tap roots of the hollyhock plants reach deep down into the earth waiting for Spring to arrive.
From there every direction you walk is a visual treat of colour, colour and more colour.
And there are more blossoms on the way!
Delphiniums too.
Hollyhocks are considered a short growing perennial and would die out in a couple of years but for the seeds they produce for new generations.
Hollyhocks are willing to grow in the harshest of conditions. It’s that hardiness that made the lovely Hollyhock a garden staple of the prairies and they would often adorn or conceal outdoor privies when not much else made those buildings attractive.
One article I read on growing hollyhocks said if you have soil, you can grow hollyhocks. It explains a lot about their willingness to grow where you will find them along Hollyhock Lane. Over the years these plants have inadvertently been beaten down by construction as well as mistaken for weeds and poisoned - but they prevail.
Interestingly the colours of the blossoms haven't always been as they are now. Through the wonder of nature the colours have morphed into the rainbow they are now with new hues appearing every year.
Other gardeners like Debra Moshenko, have come to lend a helping hand by adding milkweed seeds along the lane which will hopefully encourage Monarch butterflies to find their way to town on their incredible journey.
But wait... there's more!
Thanks, Annie & Herb for helping Mother Nature along and for sharing this gift with the entire town of High River.
I like to take a shot of the gardeners when I do a garden shoot but this was put together quickly and I didn't have a chance to get that shot. Then I remembered... a few years ago when we were hunkered down at home I did some Porchtraitures and I just so happened to have one of The Froese's, so, a few years old but they look the same!
Until next time! Stay Well.
Credits:
C.J. Bennington Fine Art Photography