We thought the chrysanthemum season was over for this year, but it isn't for horticultural students at North Dakota State University, or for you.
The NDSU Horticulture and Forestry Club will present its first fall chrysanthemum show Wednesday through Friday in Loftsgard Hall's lobby from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m daily.
There is no admission charge and visitors will be able to view many beautiful mums, most of them grown and exhibited by students enrolled in horticulture science classes.
Judging will be at 8 a.m with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The plants were grown in the NDSU greenhouses by the students. They are not garden mums, but are what are commonly known as florist mums. They are all in full bloom. A limited number will be available for purchase.
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A seven-member judging committee of plant experts will judge the various classes and choose first, second and third places, plus an overall champion.
Professor Chiwon Lee, who is noted for his ideas and activism in his professional capacity and in the Northern Plains Botanical Society, envisions this event as the start of an annual mum show earlier in the season so community gardeners and members of garden clubs can grow mums and enter them.
Chiwon says this show is aimed at students "gaining hands-on experience in growing and handling one of the most popular flowering plants, while learning the science of controlling flowering" in this typical short-day plant.
Flower bud initiation and development in chrysanthemums is induced by photo period shorter than 12 hours, depending on the season. Of course, in the greenhouse, artificial lighting systems are used.
The categories of mums include decorative, daisy, anemone, spoon or quilled, incurved, spider and reflexed.
I hope you have a chance to view these mums. Your attendance will not only be appreciated by the students, but it will help you learn about mums.
For more information, call Louise Heinz in the Plant Sciences Department, Loftsgard Hall 166, (701) 231-8l63, or Lee at (701) 231-8062.
Collins is The Forum's garden columnist. Write to her by mail at The Forum, Box 2020, Fargo ND 58107, or direct e-mail to her at dorothycollins@i29.net
