Okay!

I should have some MM to trade...if you don't have all of those yet.

Chelle, what is MM?

Glad I stumbled through this thread. When my dad passed away and we brought all the flower arrangements home one particular flower that was in most of them that intrigued me. Spiky, white, and long lasting so I took one by the local florist to see what it was and was told "Chinese mum". That was of no help, Google Images was convinced I was searching for "Chinese Mom" LOL. Turns out Japanese mum would have been closer but they're spider mums regardless.

Even though seeds can be found I'm leaning more toward the "Spoon & Quill" variety offered by Bluestone if I do decide to try some mums next year. Reminds me a good bit of the cactus zinnia bloom that I like so well.

Those are my favorites, too, Wes. I'd also love to find some spiders. Seems like I never quite hit the right time for the ordering window to be open.

Arlene, I just shortened Minnesota Mums to MM.

Okay, gotcha!

I'd like to know if there are any asters that are really a true blue color that do not get more than 18-24 " tall? Do asters reseed like crazy? Do they come back every year or just reseed?

I love mums, and I'm so glad I happened on this thread. I'd suspected that about the hormones and the breeding (so that the perennial strengths of the plant are weakened in the ones most often sold in garden centers etc.) My cousin bought three humongous mums for the front porch as is her yearly tradition, apparently. They really are pretty, and they are now mounds of bloom in rootbound condition in pots that are way too small.

She wants to plant them, so I've been thinking about how best to try to insure their survival and also how to weave them in to the garden without having them just take up a lot of space and then die.

So, this helps.

I am also reminded that in Chinese Traditional Medicine, the Chrysanthemum is a regular component in the Materia Media, used in tea. Chrysanthemum tea is lovely, but of course you want the *right* chrysanthemum for brewing. Once I tried growing some but I didn't have a good enough follow-through and though I forget just what happened, it didn't work out.

Here's the Wikipedia article on Chrysanthemum Tea, with some listed varieties: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...

I may search out some seeds and try again, if I can figure out what to look for!

Frillylily said:I'd like to know if there are any asters that are really a true blue color that do not get more than 18-24 " tall? Do asters reseed like crazy? Do they come back every year or just reseed?

Frillylily, I started an asters thread here The thread "Asters" in Perennials forum with a post about a favorite aster I grew.

My newest mum mound is starting to bloom...so exciting! I love those big plants chock-full of bright blooms.



...and some containers of BB store dollar mums, chosen to compliment the ornamental grass. They add some early color while the others are still getting ready to bloom.








Kyla, I'm not sure I could sacrifice my blooms to boiling water. Now, if I had a whole field of them...maybe.

Beautiful Chelle!

chelle said:
Kyla, I'm not sure I could sacrifice my blooms to boiling water. Now, if I had a whole field of them...maybe.

Well, that would be the idea, to have enough that you wouldn't miss a few blossoms for a cup of tea now and then. Or, my idea anyway.

Chelle, that is so pretty! I like the little red ornamental grass on the edge of the bed as well.

Thanks!

I have to tell ya that the employees at the nursery wondered why I wanted those annual grasses at the end of August, but I remembered that I had them last year, too, and they looked nice right up until the snow buried them.

I have bought the grass from the junk shelf at Lowes late in the season two I love getting them for a dollar apiece. Great idea to use them that way.

Autumn Sunset

I have tons of mums blooming. I just can't seem to upload photos!! Grrr

Oh how frustrating!