Outside a community garden this summer was a hearty Common Hollyhock (Alcea rosea). Community gardens are popular in dense urban areas such as Chicago; it’s a space to garden when one’s apartment/condo doesn’t allow space for a garden area. Hollyhock can reach up to eight feet in height and require no stalking for support. Hollyhock benefit one’s vegetable garden by attracting pollinators and is 100% edible. It is a short lived biennial; self seeding but not entirely dependable to return. The deep maroon color attracted not only pollinators but myself. Copyright 2024 Pamela Breitberg
