Baby Mums
We are growers of chrysanthemums, both in the field and in the greenhouse. They come to us from our supplier as tiny cute little cuttings (even baby plants are cute!) which need tender loving care. As you will see in the photo, they are surrounded by an electrified chicken wire fence to keep out their enemies: groundhogs, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and turkeys and deer. These animals find them either tasty or just interesting to play with. They pull the tags out, dig in them, bite them and knock them over.
Mums grow best at natural temperatures out of doors here in Pennsylvania. They are driven by the length of the day in terms of footcandles of light. Natural light makes them bloom for the fall period. Actually breeders have worked with their genetics and they will begin to bloom late this month and others will bloom in September and October.
As florists we often go to far reaches to please customers. During 911 when the planes were grounded, the thought had passed our mind that perhaps we would have to use what we had on hand in terms of flowers for a bride that weekend: MUMS. As it turned out we didn't have to do that but I have had to explain carefully the reason for 'we must reserve the right to substitute flowers if. . .' in our wedding contracts since that fateful day.