Usually by this time of year I’ve already mentioned my irritation at seeing mums arrive at every garden center and supermarket by mid-August. I’m usually still very much focused on the fruits of my labors in the soil. This year, though, I say just enjoy the darn things! It’s been a not-so-stellar gardening year with the almost nonstop rain we’ve had. Who would ever imagine a gardener complaining about rain?
Last week I stopped to see my friend, Bob Powers, at Cheshire Floral Farm in Marlborough and oh boy, it’s been a good year for mums for him and his son, Andy. I’m normally not a fan of mixed Chrysanthemum colors in a pot but two caught my eye that made me change my mind. A mixture of white, yellow and a standout apricot-peach variety with varied petal lengths. That’s what I like to see in mums… variety. Mini diatribe here: There are over a thousand varieties of Chrysanthemums but, just like cars, it’s the most homogenous varieties that are available to us. About 5 colors of roundy-moundy mums is usually what we get.
Anyway, Bob pointed out several different varieties they’re trying this year. One is a line called Soul Sisters and I snatched up 3 of those as well. Tons of buds, though small, Bob assured me they would open. He delayed one whole planting of mums since he’s received so many requests for mums in bloom for Halloween. Go visit Cheshire Floral Farm. You’ll be buying local and if you sneak out back, you’ll be able to see a whole sea of beautiful mums all lined up in color patterns on the black weed barrier-covered field.
How about a few fun facts about mums? According to an article in Better Homes & Gardens, “5 Fascinating Facts About Chrysanthemums to Get You in a Fall Mood” by Andrea Beck (bhg.com), mums were originally cultivated in China at least 3,000 years ago and are one of the four noble plants in Chinese culture. (The other 3 are plum blossoms, orchids and bamboo.)
Chrysanthemums have many different meanings across the globe. While in the US and Japan, mums are thought to bring joy and optimism, European countries such as France, Belgium and Spain associate mums with death and often place them on graves to honor the dead.
If the going gets tough, you can also eat mums. Tea made from the dried flower heads is particularly popular in China. The leaves are edible, too, and can be used in salads or boiled like other greens. The article wisely advises not to do this with chrysanthemums you’ve bought at a garden center or supermarket. Chances are good they may have been treated with pesticides and other chemicals. And then we’d be needing to revert to the Belgian tradition of displaying mums. So, go get some colorful mums and embrace autumn!
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
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Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.