Own Your Encore

Today I ventured over to Volunteer Park Conservatory to take a look at chrysanthemums as a future entry into my sketching notebook. The Chrysanthemum found at the local shops are not the blooms that compete at this annual show! A member docent shared that there are 13 categories represented here. She noted that overall, this year they saw smaller blooms … a mystery the club cannot explain since the plants are very ‘nurtured and cared for’ throughout the growing cycle.

ENJOY THE “MUM” DISPLAY

Some up close views:

Best of Show:

Chrysanthemums have a long history, first cultivated in China as a medicinal herb as early as the 15th century. Then they were adopted in Japan, where they became the emperor’s official seal and Crest. This gives them a very rich centuries old heritage and today they are one of the most popular commercially produced flowers. Typically called the Queen of Fall Flowers! 

Show hosted by www.ecamumclub.org

Now to my sketchbook.