Hollyhocks

Hollyhock House
Built 1920

Who wouldn't want to live in a "Hollyhock House?" I'd like to see this place if we ever get back to Southern California.  It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall and is now a National Historic Landmark in East Hollywood. The house takes its name from her favorite flower, and Wright designed decorative hollyhocks into the roof line, wall, columns, planters and furniture.

Interior view

Many Frank Lloyd Wright homes have precious names that only enhance his reputation as an architectural genius:

Snowflake House
Butterfly Woods
The Crimson Beech
Fallingwater
La Minatura
Deer Track
Airplane House
The Ship House
Cedar Rock
Rocky Roost
The Acres

And so on...there's an excellent  Wiki page with a chart and pictures of all his projects around the world.

Our hollyhocks are just starting to bloom.  Forget East Hollywood, hollyhocks were once called the "outhouse flower" because the long stalks would pretty up the little building in the summer.   In fact, that's exactly where I remember them growing on farms in Pennsylvania.  Now we have them by the recycle bin, which I guess is sort of the same thing.

Hollyhocks are one of those flowers that seem to do just fine when you stop trying so hard.  I've transplanted, fertilized, watered, gathered up and planted the prolific seed pods (with no luck.) Yet for years now, we've had a neglected patch growing by the house in what amounts to dry dust. Children love them-- the upside down blossoms make excellent dolly skirts.