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)
what a lovely tribute to these attractive cheerful flowers. so informative too.10 Mamta
raj....being a avid gardener this poem on 'mums ' really enthralled me.i loved the flower, , not knowing the history behind it.well, a lovely, infomative write.how about sweetpeas, my favourite? ?
Raj, I selected this poem as I was sad to discover chrysanthemums are loosing some popularity in Australia on Mother's Day. Mother's Day years ago used to symbolize a Mother's Love and I used to hide my bunch under the bushes to give to my mother. I was using the word chrysanthemums in a poem and couldn't find it in the dictionary so looked up the internet. I couldn't believe there was no mention on chrysantheumums in florist's shops just really expensive flowers. Your poem is great as it brings so much more information to me in every way and their fading beauty of these flowers in our country will live in my heart after reading this! 10 Karin Anderson
WOWWWWWW! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! A fantastic tribute to the legendary flower...Thanks for sharing this wonderful informative poem....10++++++
Whatr a proud and gracious history these flowers possess. Thank you for such an eloquent tribute. I am delighted to have learned something new today. Warm regards, Sandra
Family of 'Asteraceae' given full credit Flowering herbs got their due respect A descriptive poem with an interesting subject. Enjoyed the read. Thank you
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
these flowers-esp. the yellow ones-bring lots of cheer...i'm tempted to call them cheeranthimums!