A Really Late Bloomer: Chrysanthemum "Emperor of China."

[leene_chan]

Chrysanthemum "Emperor of China.", a photo by Leenechan on Flickr.

This is actually a Chinese chrysanthemum, not Japanese like I said previously. It bloomed for the first time today, on October 20!

I never knew that a flower could bloom so late. It's a very pretty flower in person with a nice peppery fragrance. Unfortunately, it has an awkward, gangly habit and the bunnies like to snack on it! Just the same, I might get another one of these next year. How many flowers can you find that bloom in mid-October?

Well, "Julia Child" is still producing beautiful flowers with only a tiny amount of non-deforming insect damage. Besides our mini rosebush "Sunny Kordana" it's the only rose we have that hasn't been bugged by thrips. Unfortunately, it has blackspot like whoa.

Comments

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is a gorgeous flower. I'm so envious that you guys get to grow such beautiful plants...even if it is a bit of a pain with the pests and all.

[leene-chan.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I guess I take it for granted that I'll always have a place to plant flowers. If I didn't I probably have a lot of succulents or cacti in pots. ^o^ Though there are roses that do great as potted plants, too!

I think I started out growing flowers because at some point in my life I tried to draw and wasn't very good at it. I figure that I have to nurture something pretty and graceful somehow, even it's something as unpredictable as a living plant.