Some of the most beautiful things in a garden are the ones you never planned. My hollyhocks are a perfect example. I love them because they are completely free. I never bought them, never carefully planted them, and never designed this flower bed. They simply appeared, dropped their seeds, and decided to grow here.
Every year the patch gets bigger and bigger.
During summer I walk through the grass looking for new little hollyhock plants. When I find one, I put a stick next to it so Jānis won’t accidentally trim it away. It feels like protecting a tiny garden treasure.
Now they look like a soft cloud of light pink floating in the garden. The delicate flowers sway in the wind, and bees are constantly visiting them. There is something magical about watching this little corner of the garden come alive.
I especially love that they are not the big, impressive, perfectly shaped hollyhocks you can buy in shops or grow from purchased seeds. Mine are much simpler. They have a gentle, old-fashioned beauty — the kind of flowers you imagine growing next to an old country house, without anyone trying too hard.. the wild one, like me 🙂
They just belong. So I decided to sit under the apple tree and paint them.
Not because I wanted to create a perfect artwork. Actually, I wasn’t even sure I would like the final result. My goal was something else — to enjoy the process.
So I made myself a little slow afternoon.
I took out my computer, put on some beautiful music, made a cup of coffee, poured it into an old porcelain saucer, and brought out my watercolors.
Why not? Why not take some time just to sit, observe, and draw?
I think sometimes we put too much pressure on ourselves to create something impressive. But creativity can also be about simply enjoying the moment — feeling the brush in your hand, noticing the shape of a flower, listening to the bees, and being present.
And, of course, I wasn’t alone for long.
Linna (and Marley) joined me with her pencils and felt-tip pens and continued working on her comic. Soon we were both sitting under the apple tree, each creating our own little worlds.
One painting. One comic. One cup of coffee. A garden full of flowers and bees.
Maybe these are the moments I love most about summer — the simple ones that were never planned but become beautiful memories.
Ilze
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Lovely photos, Ilze!! Such a beautiful day in Latvia. 🇱🇻☺️
Thank you, John!
What a beautiful post, Ilze. That looks like it was a lot of fun.
It was such a nice time! I liked when Linna joined into creating art 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you! 😊 It was such a simple afternoon, but somehow those are often the moments we remember the most. A cup of coffee, flowers, painting, and a little company under the apple tree — summer at its best. 🌸
One painting! One cup of coffee . . . one afternoon full of what normal happy life should be about more often . . . Linna, Marley, you . . . and some moments of total relaxation . . . oh, yes, do like the hollyhocks also 🙂 !
Thank you! 😊 This is how I close my eyes to the messy kitchen—the dirty countertops and the sticky floor. I choose to relax first, spend some time dreaming, and recharge… then tackle it all later. 😄
Well, today is cleaning day, so it’s finally getting done… I hope 😀
Those welcome volunteers are the best; your painting very good; the experience with your company, idyllic.
Thank you, Derrick, I guess I wanted that “idyllic” 🙂
Hi Ilze
We live in a village full of hollyhocks, they are here everywhere, a bit like a weed.
That was a beautiful afternoon, painting, drawing and a cup of coffee. So every afternoon should be.
We admire your colour pencils.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Hollyhocks a bit like a weed?! Oh, wow! Lucky you! Our weeds doesn’t look that good 🙂
Are your weedy hollyhocks like mine – lite and pink?
The “garden hollyhocks” they are in beautiful colours and bigger flowers.
I’m waiting for your next post 🙂
We have hollyhocks in colours like yours but also some in dark violet and red. Those in the dark violet are most liked.
My grandma had the prettiest hollyhocks behind her garage in Michigan. My mom talks about them quite often as a childhood memory. I tried growing them for her here in Texas, but they are unable to withstand the heat. They are such beautiful flowers! Thank you for the sweet memory.
What a lovely childhood memory! ❤️ I love how certain flowers become connected with people and places from our past. It’s amazing how a simple hollyhock can bring back feelings and stories from many years ago.
It’s a pity they don’t like the Texas heat — I guess they prefer a little more “old country house” weather like we have here in Latvia. 😊 I hope your mom enjoyed seeing you try to grow them for her. 🌸
They are gorgeous!
Thank you, do you have them?
Sounds like a perfect and lovely afternoon 🙂 And your hollyhock painting is beautiful!
Thank you 🙂 Enjoyed the time!