I was entranced by the Bay Area Chrysanthemum Society’s transplant display last spring. So many exciting varieties that looked like fringed tassels, sea anemones, pompoms and spiders! I was excited about growing them up on my sunny porch (away from the deer) in pots that I would feed with recycled kitchen water  due to the drought). I even became an official member!I was entranced by the Bay Area Chrysanthemum Society’s transplant display last spring. So many exciting varieties that looked like fringed tassels, sea anemones, pompoms and spiders! I was excited about growing them up on my sunny porch (away from the deer) in pots that I would feed with recycled kitchen water  due to the drought). I even became an official member!I was entranced by the Bay Area Chrysanthemum Society’s transplant display last spring. So many exciting varieties that looked like fringed tassels, sea anemones, pompoms and spiders! I was excited about growing them up on my sunny porch (away from the deer) in pots that I would feed with recycled kitchen water  due to the drought). I even became an official member!

Well, I did not attend any meetings, and only casually scanned my newsletter. I did meticulously handwash all the leaves during an aphid infestation (which never reoccured!) I did not religiously pinch them back and when they grew leggy and unruly I only propped them up with a few stakes and some ribbon.  The results were hardly professional but very rewarding to me.

I kind of love the shaggy tumble of these mums grown way to close together in the over bright sun and spotty rain, but the reason I grew them in the first place was shoot them for my Birds & Teacups series.

More on that next post!