I tend to be a bit peevish about certain plants in the garden. But I’ve got to tell you that the sight of chrysanthemums dotting the front yards of a lot of homes in my area to be distasteful: a bit like eating too many lollipops or cotton candy at an amusement park and ending up with a bad stomachache.
First, the way that most suburban folk use them is hardly artistic: at least 3 or 4 colors mixed in with each other in front borders, around mail boxes or any other place they can plant them. The jewel tones of rust, yellow and purple thrown together disorient my eyes.
Secondly, I really think that chrysanthemums are pushy flowers, not needed at all for fall color. I love fall asters and Japanese anemones: their lavender, rich purple, soft pink or white colors complementing or contrasting with the reds, yellows, pinks and oranges of summer and fall bulbs and annuals or with the florescence of ornamental grasses.
I think of fall as a season when all of nature transforms itself into a whirl of color, textures and shapes: the garden’s last hurrah before it goes to sleep for the winter. Imposing sharp colors onto the fall landscape feels a bit cruel!
Anyone out there agree or disagree with me? I’m curious to hear your thoughts.