Saturday, May 19, 2012

Mind Your Manners... Follow the Hollyhocks


My dear friend, Joyful, has told me the story that in Elizabethan times young ladies would never ask about the location of the outhouse. 




This would have been considered indelicate. 



As manners were as important then as they should be today, hollyhocks were planted along the path to the privy. 


So, young ladies did not have to ask. 




They just followed the hollyhocks.




While outhouses may be a thing of the past, don't let that stop you from planting hollyhocks.  They lend charm to any cottage garden.



These lovely photos are from our garden.  We have drifts of hollyhocks scattered here and there.   



I think they are just perfect in our Stone Cottage Adventures!  ;-)  -Marci

11 comments:

  1. Lovely post, but I do wonder how young ladies managed during the winter months! Thank for sharing your beautiful photos. I'm now following you. :)

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  2. What a sweet story. Lovely to learn things like that :-)

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  3. Hello, Aunt B! I wondered the same thing about winter months! Do you think that is when garden labels became popular? ;-) Thank you for becoming a follower. I hope this humble blog brings you joy! -Marci

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  4. Hi, Stel! I'm so glad you stopped by. Will you please come again soon? -Marci

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  5. Hi, Marci!!!
    What an interesting fact!!!
    I bet my husband doesn't know this!!! and (he thinks) he knows everything, LOL!!!
    Beautiful flowers!!

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  6. Hi, Claudine! Thank you for stopping by! Your husband sounds a lot like my husband! ;-) Thank you for complimenting the hollyhocks. So far they are holding up well in our dry Spring this year. -Marci

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  7. That is such a cute story! and they really are wonderful flowers :) Thanks for sharing your ideas on "Strut Your Stuff" Saturday! We hope to see you again! -The Sisters

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  8. Thank you! I love the Six Sisters! -Marci

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  9. Stopping by from Inspiration Cafe. How creative they were back then to plant a trail of crumbs, so to speak as a manner of being discrete. Your garden is gorgeous as are your hollyhocks! Amy @ StowandTellu

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  10. I can't wait to share this story with my nieces! And oh how I have always wanted to plant hollyhocks! They have such a charm about them....one day I will-if they will grow here.

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  11. They are gorgeous Marci - what a great story too - I never knew that! You have a beautiful garden xx Nat

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