A TRIBUTE TO CHRYSANTHEMUMS br Chrysanthemums are the easiest of perennials br to grow, br Plant them in early spring when you bid farewell br to winter’s snow! br They like the bright sun and resent ‘wet feet’, - br So grow them in dry soil, in a hole dug deep! br It is originally a native of the Eurasian region, - br Today there are hundreds of species flowering br in all seasons! br Cultivated in China as a flowering herb initially, - br There the city of Ju-Xian means ‘Chrysanthemum br City’! br Around 400 AD the ‘mum’ traveled with the br Buddhist monks to Japan, - br And the Emperor became the flower’s greatest br fan! br The Japanese called it ‘kikus’, and at the br Emperor’s behest, - br It got adopted on his Imperial Crest! br The Emperor sits on the Chrysanthemum Throne! br And the ‘Order of the Chrysanthemum’ in Japan, – br is the highest order known! ! br The ‘mums’ with deeply lobed leaves and large br flowering heads, - br Are now found in colors of white, yellow, pink br and red! br In a few European countries* the white species - br symbolizes sorrow and death; br But in USA this flower always brings good cheer br instead! br -Raj Nandy br 29 Mar 09 br (* In France, Poland & Croatia the white flower br symbolizes death! 'Mums'= short form for br the flower)br br RAJ NANDYbr br