Monday, November 12, 2018

Mumvember, at Lan Su

Originally I planned to intersperse images of the lovely mums on display at Lan Su with the floral design competition entries (shared here). But that would have made for a really long post, and one that didn't really give proper praise to either subject. Thus here, in no order other than what I encountered as I walked around the garden, is my (almost wordless) look at Mumvember, at Lan Su...

"During the month of November, Lan Su Chinese Garden will be packed with more than 750 potted chrysanthemums artistically displayed throughout the garden. More than 75 different chrysanthemum varieties will unfurl in all colors, shapes and sizes including: spiders, quills, spoons, regular incurves, irregular incurves, reflexes, semi-doubles, anemones, brush, thistle, exotics and more! Take in the oranges, reds and yellows of autumn to unusually bright pinks, pale lavenders, lime green, and even stripes of the chrysanthemum." (source)

It's not a mum, but the Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) was in full bloom and smelled divine.

The pollinators were all over it, but it looks like I didn't manage to get a single one in my photos.

The tree is good-looking too.

I have no idea what this bloom belongs to.

Any guesses?

Mumvember runs the entire month, check it out if you're in Portland. And if you're a Lan Su Garden member here's a reminder that you've got reciprocal membership at Portland's Japanese Garden for the entire month of November, so visit there too!

Weather Diary, Nov 11: Hi 58, Low 36/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

23 comments:

  1. That is such a beautiful garden and it always surprises me to see the glimpses of the city even though I know where it is located. I love those spikey Mums so it was really fun to see all the variations.

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    1. Being in the garden I completely lose track of the city beyond its walls. Usually it's the act of taking a photograph that reminds me.

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  2. I like the spidery mums the best, although it was nice to see them all, as well as the other flowers and trees at Lan Su. It takes a special obsessive ability to get these kinds of mums to flower, I think.

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    1. "a special obsessive ability"... I like that description.

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  3. The mystery shrub with the red business might be Heptacodium miconioides, Seven Sons Tree. I love the look of these big mums but it takes a bit of effort to make them look that way. They say that they're not hard to grow - maybe in retirement. Lan Su is always so beautiful!

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    1. And what I cropped out were all the stems wrapped and supported with sticks. UGLY!

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  4. Any guesses? >> Heptacodium miconioides

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    1. I agree. Heptacodium. They're in bloom here, too. I wish I had one! Lovely post, Loree!

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  5. The mums commonly seen here are sad, stunted things, briefly seen in garden centers and supermarkets to provide a spot of color in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday. I can't say I've ever seen the beautiful specimens shown in your post down this way. You know I'd be trying to grow some if I had!

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    1. I only see them as cut flowers, which is fine, that way you don't need the ugly stem supports!

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    1. DSC01566 doesn't qualify as pink to you? Looks pretty pink to me.

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  7. This looks like a wonderful garden and the Mumvember displays are gorgeous. Spoons, quills, Figis, spiders... what's not to love? I wish I lived closer, but your post is a fine second choice. Thanks for sharing it, Loree.

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    1. If you're ever in town my membership is +1, so I can get you into the garden for free...

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    2. Thanks so much, I'll remember that if I ever make my way out there!

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  8. Who knew there are so many types of mums!? My only attempt to grow pacific mum (for the leaves rather then the flowers) wasn't successful. Both Japanese and Chinese gardens appeal to my aesthetic sense, in particular those round "port hole" entry ways.

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    1. Oh yes! The leaves of Chrysanthemum pacificum are so wonderful, I've never tried to grow it though, because I'm not a fan of its flowers.

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  9. I'm not a big fan of mums mainly because the ones I usually see are the boring pot mums. I do like the yellow with the pink tube ends( reminds me of some of my blanket flowers) and the spidery one. And that courtyard floral paving is really lovely.

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    1. Before I started going to this event I would have said that I didn't care for mums, but it's opened my eyes. The plants themselves are still kind of gangly and ugly but the flowers!

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  10. There's something about the coloring and slightly sparser foliage of fall that really brings out the beauty of Lan Su; the reflective water shots are especially riveting.

    Unlike people familiar with Portland or the garden, I was taken completely off guard by the scale of that brick building looming behind it. An urban, symbolic stand-in for the mountains that play such a big role in Chinese landscapes...

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  11. There's a lot to savor in these great shots; thanks for not combining it with the earlier post. Loquats are unexpectedly lovely, and something a lot of us are unlikely to experience in bloom. The mums are all interesting, and many are gorgeous (including the definitely-pink DSC01576). But my absolute favorite pic is the translucent, glowing banana foliage with the tiny maple leaf stuck on, like a botanical "beauty spot".

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  12. Nell beat me to it...that was my fave shot also and I love calling it a botanical beauty spot. Mums get a bad rap from football corsages and supermarket overload but these photos could go a long way towards restoring their reputation.
    rickii

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