Japanese Chrysanthemum Festival

[KyushuCalanthe]

Another flower video, this time about the common garden mum in Japan. These were brought here hundreds of years ago from China, and were subsequently transformed into a bewildering array of forms. Each November Chrysanthemum flower festivals (kiku matsuri) are held throughout Japan. The one in this video was at a shrine in my area.

Kiku Matsuri

 

[abax]

I'm overwhelmed with all the shapes and colors! I love
the daisy-shaped varieties and we rarely see them here.
Most of what's available here are called cushion mums and
they're only semi-hardy. I can imagine all that pinching
to get the large flower heads and the "bonsai". What
a lovely show to attend.

*I did see one bee*

 

[SlipperFan]

Amazing!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Indeed, the array of flower types and forms is amazing, not to mention the perfect presentation at these shows. Seeing it in person is a real privilege. It is difficult to translate that experience thru a video.

Chrysanthemums came to Japan centuries ago first as a medicinal plant. The development of flower types that has occurred over the intervening years is mind boggling even if you don't like "mums" very much.

Angela, I saw many bees that day, so don't loose hope just yet!