Comments on: Mum’s the word

By: kathy tracey

kathy tracey — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:32:59 +0000

Can’t be sure from the posted photo, but the mystery mum in the rock garden bears a resemblence to ‘Will’s Wonderful’.

Kathy, I think Will’s W is pinker than this one – its edges are pretty red. And then the whole flower seems to fade to cream… -kris

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 01:11:33 +0000

I too, have had several different colors from my Sheffields, a bronzey yellow, bright yellow, pale yellow and a wine-ish shade, as well as different silhouettes. They look stunning all together.

Carolyn, It’s funny – everybody keeps saying that about their Sheffields. Our bank of them is staying obstinately the same! -kris

By: Kathy Tracey

Kathy Tracey — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:16:26 +0000

Kris, I noticed that deep pink mum at Blithewold on Saturday! And one of the things I’ve discovered is sometimes the offsets of hardy mums will sport a new color. It happened with Sheffield in my garden (other scenario is that a seedling germinated in a new hue…)

Also, a number of the “pan mums” will winter over if planted out in the garden and given a little mulch protection since they are susceptible to heaving with their shallow roots. Of course when they return in your garden next year, they will be tall and blowsy, even if pinched back. The artificial looking dome of color is achieved by taking many cuttings in late spring, sticking them in a pan, pinching back, and voila when the days get shorter, you get the ball of color. I did a blog piece on hardy mums in September. http://gardenforeplay.avantgardensne.com/?p=1632

Kathy, It never occurred to me that that deep pink mum could have blown in or be a sport of Sheffield… It’s got such a much different shape too. To me it almost looks like a pinched pan mum still in its pot – but on steroids. Maybe we should be taking cuttings! And thanks for directing us to your mum post – I missed that one and it really helped to clear up some of my confusion and mental block. -kris

By: Layanee

Layanee — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 03:14:49 +0000

Rarely do I buy potted mums. They look like plastic cutouts. They are bossy and brassy. Gee, I should like them but, no, flowering plants should be more interesting. I’m firmly with you and Sheffield Pink is not just for Grandma’s. LOL

Layanee, I feel like I should like them too and yet… “Bossy and brassy” is right especially when yellow is paired with that autumn-y burgundy. -kris

By: Lynn

Lynn — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:06:24 +0000

I’m with ya, sister. Missing my pinky-apricot passalong mums about now–always the last thing to bloom in the garden and so welcome. I’d go for forced cuphea but doesn’t look like it needs help! lovely.

Lynn, we go for that cuphea so hard that we dug that plant up. Takes up almost an entire bench in the greenhouse. (And I had already brought in some reasonably sized stock plants…) Any room for passalong Sheffields in the new digs? -kris