I'm absolutely smitten with Hollyhocks this year! They are a magical must-have for any garden and I'm pleased to say they have been successfully added to the Grove.

The English flower folk name "Hollyhock" is thought to be comprised of "holy" and "hoc".  "Holy", from the flower's copious use in the Holy Land and Egypt; and "Hoc" meaning part of the mallow plant family.  Hollyhocks were and are present in Europe, Japan, the Middle East and North America - this plant species is believed to have originated in China ... and travelled far, arriving in England during the 16th Century.

Hollyhocks symbolize "female ambition" and with such beautiful blooms, and an average growth of 6 to 10 feet ... it is easy to see why!  Due, I suspect, to their height and the possibility of needing staking or protection from the wind, you often see these flowers growing against the sides of houses, along rock walls or garden fences and no English cottage garden would be complete without Hollyhocks. They are also heavily present in graveyards, perhaps as a remembrance that they were used long ago in the funeral preparations of the Ancient Egyptians.  This magical flower has been used in a variety of ways including a soothing way to wrap bruises or a horse's sore hoof (hence another folk name "Hockleaf" and perhaps another origination for "Hoc"?).  The fairies often use the blooms for skirts or other clothing and so adding these flowers to your garden are sure to please the wee folk as well.

I've recently discovered the existence of "black" Hollyhocks, which are actually a very deep, dark purple ... I would love to add them to our garden as there are a number of "night" plants I want to cultivate.  Quick as a flash, no sooner had I voiced this wish, then a friend mentioned she was popping some black Hollyhock seeds in the mail to me.  Never doubt the existence of magic in a garden!

We are so fortunate to have received a visit by Jack Frost himself who painted this beautiful and intricate design on an old windowpane in the Grove.  Here is photographic proof of the existence of the little folk!

Where Old Man Winter can be stern and grim; Jack is all about fun.  He sees the beauty in ice and snow - not the hardships that can come with them. 

Just before dawn, this sprite tiptoes into gardens and looks for tree branches and blades of glass to coat with his shiny, shimmering paint.  He especially loves finding an old single-paned window or other thin clear surface that he can use for a canvas.

Jack's willing to share the beauty of winter with you.  Make sure you check early in the morning when his work is at its finest.  If he paints an original masterpiece somewhere in your garden, stop a few moments and examine it - his work is amazing and just think, he created it just for you!

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2018

The Meadow Sweet Grove fairies are getting ready to deck their little halls with boughs of holly.  And why not?  "Deck the Halls" is such a quintessential Christmas song.  There have been several different versions over time, but they all seem to fully encompass the true gaiety and spirit of the winter celebrations.  The happiness and joy of being warm and snug and safe during the cold winter nights, with lots of good food and drink to share with family, friends and neighbours ... now that's a reason to celebrate!

Everything about Deck the Halls resonates joy and good spirits - decorating the home with symbols of everlasting life and passing the torch of that life along to the "lads and lasses", being happy and good-natured, rejoicing in the abundance of "more than enough to go around", and a nod to the ancientness of man's celebrations at this time of year.   Even the replacement of: "Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel" with "Don we now our gay apparel" illustrates that the message was clearly understood.  Yule is a time to fully enjoy the abundance you are blessed with ... whether it be with an ample amount of good drink ... or by dressing in all your finest clothes! ​