A Toronto Christmas container, Garden muses style!

Today is American Thanksgiving so is it safe to post "Christmas-y" pictures?

Sure it is!

(By the way, I want to wish all my American readers (who, inexplicably, vastly outnumber my Canadian readers) a very Happy Thanksgiving!)

My previous post had maxi"mum" content (sorry) and touched briefly on how many containers around the city have been transitioning from having fall mums like these:

Old chrysanthemums in container

to a more festive Christmas feeling.


(Note to self: I should have a post showing all sorts of Christmas containers I see around my travels.)

I appreciate the artistry involved in creating outdoor planters. Many of the same garden design principles you see in "better" gardens like proper scale, proportion and rhythm are followed in "better"containers too. And, conversely, you know intuitively when things don't look or feel right.

So with this caveat, here's a Christmas outdoor container I made up for a friend:

Toronto outdoor Christmas planter | container 

I rarely create containers as this activity isn't part of my business and the experts who specialize in creating outdoor planters do a much better job anyway.

So, what do you think? Remember, constructive criticism is the most effective kind. Just kidding, just feel free to comment what comes to mind.

Maxi-"mum" cuteness at the 2015 Allan Gardens Conservatory Fall Chrysanthemum Show

How some cats stole a flower show

What do I do in the fall while working for others? A lot of "fall cleanups" which mean cutting down decaying stalks and foliage, raking leaves out of gardens and discarding annuals from containers and beds. One "annual" I've been dumping out is the type of chrysanthemum you might had seen and even bought back in September.

These mounded flower balls (my phrase) are meant to bridge the gap between summer and Christmas container greenery. They were great looking for about 2 months but as the flowers fade, my clients look at these brown globes of sadness and direct me to "chuck them out." I do so without regrets because these mums are commodities, having the same flower shape and overall form. You can pick them up cheaply at garden centers, hardware stores, grocery stores, etc. Just pick the flower colour: orange, red, white, yellow, umm, that's about it and plunk them into your urns or gardens for that "quick hit of fall colour" (someone else's phrase.)

Truly disposable plants...

From one container....

To another

On the other end of the horticultural spectrum,  a nearby public Conservatory operated by the City of Toronto puts on a dazzling display of all things Chrysanthemum every October into November. The Allan Gardens Conservatory Fall Chrysanthemum Show (I just call it the "Fall Mum Show") offers locals and tourists nice photo opportunities and/or a brief respite from the gloomy November weather. These Chrysanthemums are bred, I think, just for indoor shows and exhibitions and very likely not hardy outside over a zone 5 winter. This makes some sense as the desirable traits for hybridizers of big and/or unusual flowers probably come at the expense of cold hardiness and flower scent. But the flowers are sure pretty so let's take a look at them before I bore you even more.

(Warning: this is a very long post with a ton of pictures. I could/should have broken this into two posts but due to sheer laziness on my part, you'll experience the full maxi-"mum" (ahem) experience. Also, the reference to cute kittens or cats will make sense later. As if you haven't seen enough of these type of pictures in your social media circles, I promise my felines are very cute!)

Yellow incurve mum at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

As you enter the Conservatory through the main doors, you're under a tall glass dome surrounded by permanent "tropical" plantings like palms, bananas and philodendrons. There's a small "patio" for lack of a better word around which the seasonal Show plantings are on display. The colour scheme this year has yellow and orange dominating. If mums can ever be considered hot and vibrant, these are great examples.

Yellow single mums at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Yellow thistle mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Yellow spider mums at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Yellow incurve mum at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Purple and yellow single mums at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Pale yellow incurve mum at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Orange anemone mum at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

You may be wondering what these terms "incurve", "reflex", "thiste", etc. are all about. According to the National Chrysanthemum Society, USA, there are 8 classifications of Chrysanthemums. Mention them next autumn and you'll gain the awe, admiration and possible envy of others.

Maneki-neko Beckoning cat at
 the Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

This year's Show had an "Asian vibe" which is hardly incongruous since Chrysanthemums have been hybridized for many centuries in Japan, China and Korea. (The theme for last year's Show was about Fairy Gardening, a fad that has mercifully ended, I hope!)

Chrysanthemum flowers make a wonderful tea which I enjoy over dim sum (for my kids, not so much).

Seeing this Maneki-neko ("Beckoning cat" in Japanese) above brought a smile and didn't seem out of place. He is asking you to come into a place of business and spend a lot of money so many Asian store owners have these figures near their entrances or cash registers. The Conservatory is operated by the City through our tax dollars. I suppose having a few of these cats near the front doors down at City Hall may be in poor taste, especially for those paying our taxes in person!

Layers of mums at the 
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Chrysanthemum tree display detail at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

A big bonsai? The "tree" branches and trunk are made out of steel strands while the "flowers" sit in cages. A nod to cloud pruning?

Chrysanthemum tree display at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Another beckoning or "lucky" cat. She's a small bank. You might be able to make out the coin slot on the top of her head. Sadly, the plug that would be holding in your success is missing with this neko (Japanese for "cat"). She may be penniless but oh so cute!

Beckoning cat (Maneki-neko) at the
 Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Fall Chrysanthemum Show wrought iron bench display

I had to wonder a little about this lady's headgear below. Such conical hats are worn by farmers and others working outside in south Asia so why would one with enough wealth and ostentation to adorn herself with live flowers be caught dead outside toiling under the sun?

Ok, ok, it's just a flower show, so moving on...

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show
floral mannequin 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show
layers of mums

2015 Allan Gardens Conservatory Chrysanthemum Show
floral mannequin

Layers of mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show
wrought iron bench

I'm loving the vertical aspect of these mums! The lanterns with the wrought iron bench? Hmmmm...

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show
wrought iron bench display

The other area showing the Mum Show, on the other hand, had decided different look and feel. The flowers on display here were cool whites, pinks, purples. It was a very peaceful, serene, and ethereal setting.  (Even the lone staff member ignored me during these moments of deep contemplation as I took these pictures, bless her!)

It was akin to waking up to fresh snow in the garden one winter morning. I was also reminded of funerals. Did you know white chrysanthemums are often used in Asian funerals?  I wouldn't mind one bit if my visitation and funeral had loads of mums in these hues and shades. There's nothing morbid in this at all: just the practical application of floriculture!

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015
Chrysanthemum Show
purple decorative mum 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015
Chrysanthemum Show
white decorative mum 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015
Chrysanthemum Show
 white decorative mums 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015
Chrysanthemum Show mum standards 

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show
Leda and the Swan fountain 

White pompon mum at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

White single mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Purple incurve mum at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Purple reflex mum at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

White spoon mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Purple and white single mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

White incurve mum at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Pink anemone mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Pink single mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

"Saba" single mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Drift of pastel mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Pale purple reflex mums at the
 Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Mum standards at the
 Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Layers of pastel mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

"Peek-a-boo!" says Hello Kitty, if Hello Kitty had a mouth. Which she doesn't but you can easily imagine her saying this so just go with me here.

Beats having to look at a gawd-awful gnome or fairy any time of the day or night!

Hello Kitty hiding among the mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Chrysanthemum butterfly display at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

I don't know about you but I see an alligator with sunglasses and a struggling Mohawk haircut in this picture:

Chrysanthemum butterfly display at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

Drift of purple mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

White spider mum at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Pastel pink mums at the
 Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Cuteness factor reaching 9000! I love fishing so being reincarnated as Hello Kitty fishing with my angling little buddy is very appealing, at least for a day.

Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show:
Hello Kitty and friend fishing 

White spider and purple incurve mums at the
 Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show

White and pink single mums at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

Pastel mums with Leda at the
Allan Gardens Conservatory 2015 Chrysanthemum Show 

I've posted about the Fall Mum Show in the past so if you really still need to see more mums, you can fill your floral boots here:

Mum's the Word: Allan Gardens Conservatory Chrysanthemum Show 2013

I swear on me (fall) mum, it's a fantastic show! The Allan Gardens Conservatory 2014 Fall Chrysanthemum Show