mums

Edo-Giku bed first developed in 1878

from one stem !
it takes a year to train the flower this way
before the show opened a few weeks ago
we saw a gardener pruning from a forklift above the plant

Ichi-roku zukuri variety : one flower in the middle surrounded by six

mums on a plate

My Akasaka friend and I went to check out the Chrysanthemums at Shinjuku Gyeon Tuesday. With all do respect to mothers everywhere - these ain't your mamas chrysanthemums. Funny that in the 'west' we think of 'mums as a hearty fool proof stalwart of fall. At least I do. But in China and Japan it appears they have always been revered, even linked with immortality. A quick and largely plagiarized Internet search tells me : Chrysanthemums were first introduced to Japan from China where they appear in writings as early as the 15th Century B.C. In Japan sipping water from its petals was thought to bring longevity. The blooming of the flower represented both the sun and the perfection of 'orderly life'. Only royal and noble families (samurai) were allowed to grow them. A single Chrysanthemum is the crest of the Imperial house. However, My Akasaka friend (who is actually from Texas) tells me the flower is not with out its place in Texas legend. It is the chosen, if not somewhat obscured, flower of choice for extraordinary prom corsages. Behold the Homecoming Mum.

courtesy of the mumshop

Oh yeah Marlena was there too