ncaa football

Chrysanthemums:
By Steve Wilcott, Fri Dec 9th

Chrysanthemums: Once a Very Serious Matter

Did you know that those lush, colorful blooms calledchrysanthemums are rooted in beliefs of human immortality andperfection? Today the "mum" graces gardens, cut flowerarrangements and even salads (yes mums taste great), but theywere taken much more seriously after T'ao Yuan Ming started itall in China around 500 A.D.

Over long periods of careful cross-pollination and selection, hedeveloped stunning varieties of the flower and when he died, hisbirthplace was renamed Chuhsien. The City of Chrysanthemums. Hisefforts had produced a legacy that would bring pleasure to thisworld for centuries.

When China imported the first chrysanthemums to Japan, thepeople there bestowed many honors upon them. The Japanese wrotelegends. To sip dew from the petals meant long life. To eat theflower meant immortality. Philosophers said that the systematicopening of the "ray" flowers symbolized both the sun and theperfection of orderly life.

By 800 A.D. the chrysanthemum had become so prestigious thatonly royal and noble families were permitted to cultivate it.Among the highest honors that could be bestowed in Japan wasadmittance to the Order of the

Chrysanthemum... a reward grantedto nobility for service to the Emperor.

In great contrast to this, the "mum" didn't make much of animpression when traders introduced it to Europe in the 1600s.But when in finally did catch on, it became one of the mostpopular blooms for both flower shops and gardens.

Today the mum comes in dozens of varieties. Fuji mums projectrays with curly ends. Spider mums have straight-ended rays.Starburst mums have forked ends, while spoon-ended mums have aloop at the end of their rays. China mums are called "standard"and "football" because of their large, round heads. Daisy-likemums are called pompons. And those forming tight little ballsare called button pomps.

Whether associated with spoons, forks or footballs, or withroyalty or immortality, "mum" is the word for beautiful gardensand long-lasting floral arrangements. When you care for them ascut flowers, try to keep their ancient beauty away from suchmodern-day contraptions as air conditioning, TV sets andheaters. Don't place them in drafts or direct sunlight. Do watchtheir water, and replace it when needed. This way, a bouquet ofmums can make your day every day for at least a week, maybe two.