Plantidote of the Day 2011-08-01
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Chrysanthemum morifolium
Spider mum
How can it be August already? Wasn't it just a couple weeks ago that spring was in the air and gardens were just getting started? Now it's almost fall. How did that happen?
Anyway, chrysanthemums are turning up in stores, so autumn is definitely around the corner. "Mums," as they're commonly called, start blooming in summer, but they're such popular fall flowers that they're practically synonymous with autumn.
The spider mum (above) is one of my faves, just because it's so goofy. It looks like it was designed by Muppets. Maybe it's too silly looking for you -- if so, no problem! There are more than 160 different species of mums, something for every zone with different colors, shapes and growing habits available. If you'd like to learn more, the National Chrysanthemum Society website has plenty of detailed information to help you get started.
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Readers, please send twig (twig4now@gmail.com) images and stories for the ongoing Plantidote of the Day series. In exchange, you'll win undying fame in the form of a hat tip! Plants growing in your garden, your house, or neighbor's yard, plants from the forest or farmers' market, plants you preserved, plants you prepared (wine; cider; tea; dried beans), plants you harvested (grains; chanterelles), plants you picked (flowers), plants you dried (herbs), plants you covet or hope to grow someday. Herbal remedies, propagation tips, new varieties, etc.. And if you can, include some solid detail about the plant, too -- a story, the genus and species, or where you got the seeds, or the recipe, or your grandmother gave it to you. Or challenge us with a "Name That Plant" mystery entry ... And please feel free to add corrections and additional information in the comments.
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Comments
What I call Spiky Mums are
my favorite!
When my son was little, he went to the florist and got me a potted 'spiky mum' for Mother's Day, or my Birthday, because he knew I liked them. I wondered how he paid for it. Apparently they sold it to him for what he had. I was sure it cost more than that! I thought that was sweet of them - and him. I always remember that plant, that gift.
thanks twig
It's a good day for spidey mums.
It's been hell elsewhere. Everywhere. It is just profoundly sorrowful to watch Dems f**k over the New Deal. So I will add bonus mums here. At least I think they are mums, because they aren't daisies and the leaves look mumish to me.