The Spirit of the chrysanthemum on a perfect Fall day, said Princess Haiku

Tomorrow I will be going to my first Chrysanthemum Festival and I hope to return with a zillion gorgeous photos.

“They’re the most beautiful flower you can imagine,” said Irv Baker, president of the Chrysanthemum Society of Marin, which produces the juried flower show. “There are roughly between 3,500 and 4,000 cultivars and you can do anything you want with them.” The Chrysanthemum Society has been holding a flower show since 1954. Baker said it has become so popular, growers come from as far away as Sacramento, Stockton, even Los Angeles, to display their blooms. This year there should be more than 150 plants to view. Expect to see more than 150 stellar mums on display, including chrysanthemums trained into bonsai shapes, like miniature trees.

The Chrysanthemum Show will take place Saturday, Oct. 25 from noon to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 26 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Druid Hall, Grant and Reichert Streets in downtown Novato. Admission is free. For more information, call Irv Baker at 892-9650.

See you there!

Princess Haiku floats off to "Kiku Matusuri" the Chrysanthemum Festival at the Portland Japanese Garden

Kiku Matsuri, the Chrysanthemum Festival

October 18–November 2, 2008
10am-4pm

"If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow chrysanthemums."



Kiku Matsuri, the Chrysanthemum Festival, is the fifth of the five annual Go-Sekku Festivals in the traditional Japanese calendar. In addition to the annual two-day Ikebana International Chrysanthemum Exhibition on the weekend of October 25–26, this year for the first time we are pleased to announce a special horticultural display of potted chrysanthemums on view outdoors on the East Veranda of the Pavilion from October 18 through November 2.

Such displays have long been held around the time of Kiku no Sekku (the ninth day of the ninth month in the lunar calendar) in Japan, where rows of fancy chrysanthemums line banner-draped shelves on the grounds of the Imperial Palace, as well as in temple courtyards and botanical gardens at this time of year.

For more photos of the Portland Japanese Garden enter here.

Moon Viewing

credit


O-Tsukimi is one of the oldest and most elegant traditions in Japanese culture. The tradition of moonviewing dates back to the Heian period (794-1192 CE), when Kyoto was the capital of Japan. The first moonviewing party was held at the Imperial Court on August 15, 909, when courtiers celebrated the harvest moon with an evening of food, drink, music, and poetry writing and reading. Moonviewing is one of the most popular annual events at the Portland Japanese Garden, held on the east deck of the Garden’s Pavilion where participants watch the harvest moon rise over downtown Portland. The event is celebrated with music, poetry writing, and calligraphy—and guests enjoy seasonal delicacies including sake and moon cakes. Listen to the gentle sounds of shakuhachi flute and koto by Duo En. Experience a rare walk through the lantern-lit garden during moonlight hours as flutist Harry Callows serenades you in the Garden. Moonviewing at the Garden will be held from 6:30–8:30pm on three separate nights this year— September 26, 27, and 28, 2007.drawing to a close in an evening’s silhouettes


Seeing the moonlight
spilling down
through these trees,
my heart fills to the brim
with autumn.

(Tr. Hirshfield & Aratami)
Ono No Komachi