Hollyhock August

My inspiration for this month's illustration comes from my back yard.  I am always fighting with hollyhocks because they try and grow in my garden where I don't want them.  They are very hardy and almost impossible to kill.  I actually like them but they consistently pop up in the most inopportune places.

The illustration shows the pod that forms after they flower.  They are in the genus Alcea and I was tempted to call this month Alcea August but the name "Hollyhock" is just too cute not to use.  Happy August!