The Tudor-style Tea Cottage at Arley Hall in Cheshire is a focal point leading the eye down a broad path. On either side of the path are cottage garden style flowers, such as these flailing hollyhocks, which grow alongside a collection of summer flowering shrub roses and extend the season of interest. The Tea Cottage has been superseded by The Gardener’s Kitchen, but is used for exhibitions, filming and weddings.
For more posts that include pictures from Arley Hall, click here.
Susan Rushton 
One of my favorites! How I wish I could grow them in my garden. Alas, too shady.
I can’t grow them very well either. I have tried as they are such classic cottage garden plants.
Oh, I long for them! Instead, in my shady yard, everything’s coming up hostas.
The hostas do look good though.
They do. I’ve come around to them. 😉
Very quaint looking setting. I like how the cupola and weathervane in the distance are framed by the hollyhocks.
I’m glad you mentioned that. I originally took a version where the cupola was hidden behind the hollyhocks, but moved around so you could see it.
I’m sooo jealous!
I didn’t grow them, but I did get a chance to enjoy them!
Arley Hall, Cheshire? I used to know someone who worked there.
It’s a small world (and a lovely garden, as you’ll know) 🙂
That’s a really cute cottage. Nice hollyhocks.
It’s a rose garden, but most of the roses are old roses, so don’t repeat flower. After the roses, hollyhocks and foxgloves take over the responsibility of providing flower power.
Hollyhocks rule!
I agree, although I’ve seen a surprising amount of wayfarers growing wild along the roadside this year.
Idyllic
I once bought a book just because it had hollyhocks on the cover… probably not the wisest idea, on balance!
This photo is almost jarring in its otherness — to go from Indiana to this storybook page is like being on the end of the crack-the-whip line. It’s a wonderful jolt, though. I’ve always found hollyhocks to be transportive (yes, I made that up). Moreso in this cottage world. A beautiful image!
I remember your saying you liked them. They’re one of those memory plants that are entwined with ideas and associations so when you see one, you experience more than just the flower, lovely as it is.
Exactly!
I have to take out a bunch of trees. I decided I am going to finally get some Hollyhocks. I love those flowers – and I love this picture.
Wishing you good luck for both the tree removal and the hollyhocks. I added a link in my reply to Gardeninacity below about some rust resistant ones.
Thank you. I will give it a read.
Oh, I love Hollyhocks. Around here they are very susceptible to rust, but I’m thinking of trying the yellow Russian Hollyhocks.
Sounds like a good idea. You might find this post from Larry Hodgson interesting:
https://laidbackgardener.blog/tag/russian-hollyhock/
Thank you for this link! I just ordered some Russian and figleaf Hollyhocks for next spring! Very excited!
Good luck with them!