Morning mum

A TRIBUTE TO CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Chrysanthemums are the easiest of perennials
to grow,
Plant them in early spring when you bid farewell
to winter’s snow!

They like the bright sun and resent ‘wet feet’, -
So grow them in dry soil, in a hole dug deep!

It is originally a native of the Eurasian region, -
Today there are hundreds of species flowering
in all seasons!

Cultivated in China as a flowering herb initially, -
There the city of Ju-Xian means ‘Chrysanthemum
City’!

Around 400 AD the ‘mum’ traveled with the
Buddhist monks to Japan, -
And the Emperor became the flower’s greatest
fan!

The Japanese called it ‘kikus’, and at the
Emperor’s behest, -
It got adopted on his Imperial Crest!

The Emperor sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne!
And the ‘Order of the Chrysanthemum’ in Japan, –
is the highest order known!!

The ‘mums’ with deeply lobed leaves and large
flowering heads, -
Are now found in colors of white, yellow, pink
and red!

In a few European countries* the white species -
symbolizes sorrow and death;
But in USA this flower always brings good cheer
instead!

~Raj Nandy~
29 Mar 09

(* In France, Poland & Croatia the white flower
symbolizes death! 'Mums'= short form for
the flower)