These are my father's chrysanthemums taken today. One quick word on these mums - it requires a lot of care to produce these large blooms! Lots of pruning, staking, watering, feeding, protecting from heavy rains, winds, etc. Quite a primadonna of a plant.
You might want to make sure you're seated because 1) there are a LOT of photos and 2) the blooms that follow are spectacular!
If you missed my earlier post on my father's house, you can see his garden, ducks, geese, trees, etc. here. Here's a cool post on hatching ducklings at his house this spring (must see photos in this post!).
Such big heads on the round 'football' mums are usually seen only in a greenhouse. We used to wear corsages made of a big mum to football games when I was a teenager, ever so long ago.
ReplyDeleteYes I know! These mums require lots of tender loving care. The spider looking mums are so enticing. I love all the colours and collection your father has. Glad you took so many photos. I have really enjoyed looking at them. I cannot imagine how thrilled you were. Must have been so so enjoyable for you! Btw, the jade plant you mentioned earlier, is a popular plant here and does sounds much more 'expensive than my coin plant ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many chrysanthemums and in so many colours, it is certainly a feast for my eyes. We will need to buy a lot of mums in pots and as cut flowers during Chinese New Year. We put mums at the altar as prayer offerings. Many people do this on the 1st and 15th day and also festival day of each lunar month.
ReplyDeleteNice collection.........I like Chrysanthemum very much but it needs full time care, you can't leave it on its own even for a single day :)
ReplyDeleteThey are spectacular!
ReplyDeleteWorth the work.
Hi Wendy, I enjoyed looking at these impressive gorgeous flowers but unlike your father would never invite any prima donnas into my garden. I have at times tried them but they never survive the tough regime required of them. The best flower you show in this post is the one wearing a pink tracksuit top.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers - I can't even fathom the work that has gone into them. Beautiful little girl, too!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers - I can't even fathom the work that has gone into them. Beautiful little girl, too!!
ReplyDeleteYour father is very talented at growing Mums! He has so many different colors, and all so pretty. My Dad is the Dahlia Freak. I am glad because he shares!
ReplyDeleteRosey
So glad you're sharing these awesome blossoms with us, Wendy! The florist I had worked at previous charged $3.50 PER stem of the spider mums and $5 for the football-sized ones!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is still that deep red with the bronze center! I can certainly tell that your father is passionate about his prized chrysanthemums!
These flowers and photos are just beautiful. What a gift your father has.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me. I'm so glad to have found another Glee fan. Just can't get enough of it. Heard the cast is performing at one of the World Series baseball games. Just a rumor, but hope to catch it.
That bronzy-spidery mum is so fabulous, it might actually worth the trouble. Thanks to your dad (and You) we can drink in their beauty vicariously. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteFantabulous. They are so beautiful... and tall. Many shapes and colors- wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Catmint, that's sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteRosey, I love dahlias too and encourage him to grow them. I thought it was a similar looking flower with easier care and a longer bloom season. But he said he was not interested. This is when he mentioned there were a few flowers that all royalty in China had - peonies, chrysanthemums, and...I forget, but dahlias weren't among them.
Nell Jean - I think that would be a really nice thing, to wear a corsage...
You are right. these are spectacular flowers. Eventhough they are tough to raise, I can see why he persists. They reward him with their beautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteHello Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI am heavily into growing Japanese Asagao vines, and this year I am taking the plunge to grow spider mums. Your father's garden will serve as my inspiration!
If either you or your father would like to try any of the strains of Japanese Asagao in your garden, please take a look at my blog (http://growingjapaneseasagao.blogspot.com/) and flickr.com page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gerris2/sets/72157612026554230/) and let me know which ones you like and I will send you seeds.
Best regards,
Joseph
Howdy, I also grow several mums. How does your father control bugs?
ReplyDeleteHi Ruthlynn, I find mums pretty pest free. I don't think he uses anything but I'll double check.
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