When the great unwashed think of chrysanthemum , more commonly refer to as ' mums ' , they opine of the colorful bunches of daisy seen in just about every floral section in a grocery store memory , but it is in fall when these brainy blooms naturally bloom . Many Asiatic cultures admire and hold the late - season bloom in very gamey regard as a symbolization of longevity and joy .

In late October , a beautiful exhibition conduct station in Capitol Hill ’s Volunteer Park Conservatory to celebrate this dear flower . In September , the hothouse re - open its doors to the public . For many months , visitant seeking socially distance interactions outdoors would chew the fat the park , but only get under one’s skin to peek into the 100 + -year - old Victorian glasshouse , hop for a glance of the tropic treasure it contain . briefly after re - opening , they began to welcome local plant groups for industrial plant sales and exhibition .

In attendance was a horticultural talent who has made the Pacific Northwest her home , and the chrysanthemum is just one of her specialties . Yoko Arakawa has always had a special touch when it came to get plants . Trained in the science of her work , both here and in her native Japan , the artistic portion of it set her apart as she spearheaded the yield of plant from the famed Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square , Pennsylvania , about an hour nor'-west of Philadelphia .

She was know for direct the ' One Thousand Bloom ' chrysanthemum presentation , known in Japan as Ozukuri . It demand meticulously coach a single plant , and through painstaking pruning , wiring , and careful polish , it will create a giant dome of perfectly place flush to afford all at the same time .

Seeing chrysanthemum blooms was like visiting old friend . Arakawa ’s infectious enthusiasm and vast knowledge is something David Helgeson , senior nurseryman for Volunteer Park Conservatory , picked up on right away when they first met a few month ago . “ We would be so esteemed to have Yoko exploit with us to make such a masterpiece . Maybe we ’ll aim for a 500 mum flush to start , ” he laughs .

To have such expertness in an art var. that is so rarefied and beloved by many is in risk of being lost . Both Helgeson and Arakawa , along with members of the Evergreen Chrysanthemum Association , sympathise about the lack of youth and multifariousness in grow forte plants as the average years of their group is 60 and above .

“ It seems like they just do n’t have the time , ” one shower said . “ They may have interest in the flowers , but it ’s just too time - consuming for most people to grow and show chrysanthemums , but that does n’t mean that they ca n’t memorise a little along the elbow room and delight them . You do n’t have to be retired like me to grow mums . ”

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