According to Wiki: The hollyhocks comprise about 60 species of flowering plants in the genus Alcea (Ál-ce-a) in the mallow family Malvaceae, native to southwest and central Asia. They are biennial or short-lived perennial plants growing to 3.5 m tall, with broad, rounded, palmately lobed leaves and numerous flowers, pink or yellow in the wild species, on the erect central stem.

I noticed that I have been taking lots of flower shots as of late. This is nothing new for me... I have always done alot of botanical oriented photography. Just "new" as in "again."
I think alot of it has to do with the abundance of flowers here in ABQ. The weather is just perfect for alot of species. ... escpecially... hollyhocks. Who knew there were so many varieties ?
I remember when I was very little that my grandmother had a bunch of them growing along a shed in the back yard. They seemed sooooooooo tall... and so decadent.

I am no less impressed today.

.......................photos by Elaine A. Russell

**If you like these photos... check out my friend Leau's blog. She has some cool hollyhock photos as well ---->