July 2026 – Roadkill Crossing

Rows of Hollyhocks greet me on my morning walk. Photo by Bruce Stambaugh

My morning walks in our suburban neighborhood reap several rewards besides exercise.

I enjoy greeting other walkers, runners, and dog walkers. Though it has lessened recently, I still enjoy hearing the birdsong as I make my way.

Song sparrows, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Wrens, House Wrens, House Finches, American Robins sing away, while the Blue Jays and Common and Fish Crows signal with their various alerts and caws.

As the bird calls grow fewer, the many flower gardens send forth a rainbow of colors from season to season. Summer, of course, is the climax of this natural colorful abundance.

I enjoy the Knockout Roses, Irises, Tulips, and other floral displays that, week by week, transform spring into summer. Of all these beauties, Common Hollyhocks are my favorites.

Their mostly pastel colors welcome me as I turn the corner for home. From deep burgundy to pink to white, they stand tall between the street and an iron fence that keeps a pair of Brittney Spaniels in their spacious backyard.

Each time I see those beds of Hollyhocks, visions of watercolors flash before me from my elementary school days. I remember those lovely illustrations in our reading books from the “Alice and Jerry” series.

With all the troubles of the world swirling around us, it’s nice to be reminded of simpler, less troublesome times.