Appears my passionvine blog from years ago, 2004, has vanished, so an old blog bites the dust, and a new chrysanthemum is born!

Having always been a flower child 

 I grow kiku, the Japanese name for chrysanthemum.

There's a lot to know about growing kiku, pronounced kikoo.

I first met kiku in Japan, where I saw the pattern on an obi I was being fitted for at Imatsu Restaurant in Nagaoka in Northern Honshu. And also in many motifs on pottery, some too ornate for my liking, still, I was interested in the large beautiful blossoms depicted. Or fan shaped gnomes, cascading mums carefully trained.

So 4 years ago I found a place to buy kiku, and have been doing it ever since, and the learning curve has been slow as I am rarely ever here to tend them in fall.

 And they require tending.