Friday Flowers: Autumn Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemum: Rosy Victoria Coral


If it's fall, then it's time for the 'mums.

I was recently in Las Vegas and had the opportunity to check out the conservatory at the Bellagio. It was a lovely design. But the chrysanthemums on display were absolute beauties. Although I don't do the regular "Friday Flower" posts anymore, I couldn't let the day pass without sharing these pretties with you.

I'm hoping to pay a visit to some of the local botanic gardens to see some more chrysanthemums as the season progresses.

Chrysanthemum: Durango


And maybe, if I pick up the pace on my posting, I might start celebrating these floral delights on a weekly basis again.

Maybe I'll even start showcasing poetry, like I did in the old days. But I better not get ahead of myself. We'll see how the new style of posting works out over the course of a few weeks before making any promises. ;-)

Chrysanthemum: Regal James Town


Pretty. Pretty. Pretty.

Enjoy!!!

Friday Flowers: All My Pretty Mums

Chrysanthemum: Lavender Pixies


Frenzy
(By Anne Sexton)

I am not lazy.
I am on the amphetamine of the soul.
I am, each day,
typing out the God
my typewriter believes in.
Very quick. Very intense,
like a wolf at a live heart.
Not lazy.
When a lazy man, they say,
looks toward heaven,
the angels close the windows.

Oh angels,
keep the windows open
so that I may reach in
and steal each object,
objects that tell me the sea is not dying,
objects that tell me the dirt has a life-wish,
that the Christ who walked for me,
walked on true ground
and that this frenzy,
like bees stinging the heart all morning,
will keep the angels
with their windows open,
wide as an English bathtub.


Although her birth date ought to be celebrated on November 9th, Friday would not cooperate, forcing me to delay our Anne Sexton day for a couple of days. ;-)

You may recall how much I adore confessional poetry; well, the confessions of Anne Sexton are the best. Her poems have an intense potency, with passionate cadences and startling imagery. The authenticity of her voice stops time and realigns the world.

Chrysanthemum: Yoko Ono

And the mums? I took so many photos of the beauties at last weekend's show that I couldn't just let them languish on my hard drive or get Flicked away, lost in the sea of information. Yeah, it's not as if Paideia has the largest readership in the world, but at least they get to share a post with Anne Sexton.

Who could ask for more than that? ;-)

Mums the Word

Chrysanthemum: Star Prize


Just because we're at mid-Autumn doesn't mean the Paideia flower shows will be letting up. We'll just be featuring a different line of beauties. And this time we're celebrating the Queen of Fall, the Golden Flower, the lovely Chrysanthemum.

The Descanso Gardens up in La Canada Flintridge were holding the 79th annual show of the local chapter of the National Chrysanthemum Society. As you can expect, nearly eight decades of showing have created a community that grows some amazing mums!!!

The variety of chrysanthemum types were well represented. Whether you like anemones or decoratives, pompons or quills, all categories were represented with glorious displays.

Chrysanthemum: Kermit

I don't often make my way up to the Descanso Gardens, requiring a five freeway trip from my place down in the South Bay. But this show was well worth the time and effort.