The Rich History of Chrysanthemums
By admin | June 21, 2008
Did you know that those lush, colorful blooms called chrysanthemums are rooted in beliefs of human immortality and perfection? Today the “mum” graces gardens, cut flower arrangements and even salads (yes mums taste great), but they were taken much more seriously after T’ao Yuan Ming started it all in China around 500 A.D.
Over long periods of careful cross-pollination and selection, he developed stunning varieties of the flower and when he died, his birthplace was renamed Chuhsien. The City of Chrysanthemums. His efforts had produced a legacy that would bring pleasure to this world for centuries.
When China imported the first chrysanthemums to Japan, the people there bestowed many honors upon them. The Japanese wrote legends. To sip dew from the petals meant long life. To eat the flower meant immortality. Philosophers said that the systematic opening of the “ray” flowers symbolized both the sun and the perfection of orderly life.
By 800 A.D. the chrysanthemum had become so prestigious that only royal and noble families were permitted to cultivate it. Among the highest honors that could be bestowed in Japan was admittance to the Order of the Chrysanthemum… a reward granted to nobility for service to the Emperor.
In great contrast to this, the “mum” didn’t make much of an impression when traders introduced it to Europe in the 1600s. But when in finally did catch on, it became one of the most popular blooms for both flower shops and gardens.
Today the mum comes in dozens of varieties. Fuji mums project rays with curly ends. Spider mums have straight-ended rays. Starburst mums have forked ends, while spoon-ended mums have a loop at the end of their rays. China mums are called “standard” and “football” because of their large, round heads. Daisy-like mums are called pompons. And those forming tight little balls are called button pomps.
Whether associated with spoons, forks or footballs, or with royalty or immortality, “mum” is the word for beautiful gardens and long-lasting floral arrangements. When you care for them as cut flowers, try to keep their ancient beauty away from such modern-day contraptions as air conditioning, TV sets and heaters. Don’t place them in drafts or direct sunlight. Do watch their water, and replace it when needed. This way, a bouquet of mums can make your day every day for at least a week, maybe two.
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2005/05/30/the-rich-history-of-chrysanthemums/
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Tags: Chrysanthemums, flower garden, flowers, garden, gardeningWhy It Is Absolutely Vital That You Prune Your Roses
By admin | June 6, 2008
In this jet age we live in, most of us find it very difficult to get time to prune the roses and very often we skip the process. We do not realize the consequences of avoiding the process. Here are a few points explaining the importance of the practice.
Pruning helps stimulate growth of the rose. There is no hard and fast rule regarding the time of pruning roses. As long as the roses are kept out to receive sunlight is all that matters. Sunlight infuses energy in the plant, and provides the nutrients they need through summer, which are missing. Air moving through the plant helps the plant to bloom and grow successfully.
Pruning protects the plant from diseases and wintering bugs. The rose plant is a common place for bugs and diseases to hide from the cold winter and also helps remove the bugs and the dead wood and decay that are caused by them. The growth of the rose plant is often curbed by the decays of the bugs, which leads to destruction of the plant. With the help of pruning the disease is removed thus helping the plant grow in a healthy environment.
Pruning guarantees excellent quality and quantity of roses. Pruning helps make the thin and weak stems of the rose plant stronger, prevents decay and revitalizes them. Even if the process isn’t done professionally, it helps the plant grow, get stronger and increase the quality of the flowers.
Pruning is a very easy process that can be done effortlessly at home. All you need is a pair of pruning scissors and gloves to protect your hands. You need to find the perfect time to prune your rose. Different varieties of roses have different times to prune. Usually the time before spring is the best for cutting.
You should also give a lot of importance to the way you cut each rose. If cut haphazardly it will be difficult for the rose to grow back. Avoid bad and rough cuts, which damage the stem and tissue of the plant. The cut should always slope towards the bud, not too far away from it. You should make sure that you have removed all the dead wood before cutting the rose. Ensure the use of appropriate tools, dull and rusty tools can be harmful.
Pruning helps the plant gain its nutrition and energy and makes it stronger and healthier. You should never avoid this act of trimming your roses. By cutting away the dead wood and bugs, you ensure a healthy and fast growth. Roses are not nearly as difficult to maintain as many people think they are.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as flowers online at http://www.giftsorflowersplus.com
Tags: flower garden, flowers, growing flowers, rose gardenYou Can’t Beat Perennials For Glorious Color All Season Long
By admin | May 29, 2008
When you start gardening with perennials, it’s easy to think that all you have to do is get your plants into the ground, and with the exception of weeding, watering and cutting back, your garden will be done.
But here’s what really happens: in the first year your new plants are underwhelming - the clumps small, the flowers sparse. By the second year, your perennials have grown fuller and have more flowers, but in the third season - watch out - your plants look like they’re on steroids, and you look like an accomplished gardener.
After that, many plants get bigger each season, while the odd one confounds you by doing a disappearing act. Responding to the inevitable change is your challenge as a flower gardener.
Veteran gardeners say that no flower garden is ever truly finished. When I was starting out about 15 years ago, my husband used to joke that my plants should have been on wheels because I moved them so much.
Perennial plants are the backbone of the flower garden because they’re the plants with staying power. Their leaves die back as winter approaches, but with luck, the following spring, they come back. Some plants are short-lived, but old favorites like daylilies, hostas and peonies can last for decades.
The right perennials for your garden
When you’re planning your flower garden, there are many choices to make - some purely aesthetic, such as match-making with winning perennial combinations, and some purely horticultural -
what grows best in your conditons.
The more closely you base your decisions on meeting the needs of your plants (in terms of light requirements, soil, moisture levels and so on) and on which plants look good together, the more likely you are to be successful with your perennial gardening.
Yvonne Cunnington is an avid perennial gardener and the author of Clueless in the Garden: A Guide for the Horticulturally Helpless. For lots more perennial gardening tips, visit her website http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/perennials.html”
Tags: creating a perennial garden, flower garden, flowers, perennial gardening, perennials