Hollyhocks!

Hollyhocks are such a traditional, English-cottage-garden flower. And they are well worth the two years' patience. They tower to over ten feet tall. I have some in both side gardens, and these wonderful, almost-black ones by the deck near the pool.

Their buds remind me of Iced Gems; tiny unsweet biscuits (cookies), each of which had a different colour swirl of hard sweet icing on the top.

They are very easy to grow. Just throw a packet of seeds out, and wait a couple of years for the show. After that, if you don't disturb them, they'll self-seed and come back year-after-two-years. (Should be flowers every year, it's just each new plant that takes two years to flower.)

A few more here in the garden photo set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alisontoon/sets/72157630899045556/