YOUR GUIDE TO THE TWIN CITIES
Orange, red, and fushia — Fall is all about mums. Frost hardy and fool-proof, mums are often the last splash of color before the snow falls. I’m not a big fan of mums in a floral bouquet, but they are stunning paired with decorative kales and grasses in the garden.
According to the U of M Extension Service “In the 1920s, University researchers began selecting and growing mums for their ability to flower before the state’s killing frosts. In the process, they cultivated the oldest public-sector mum breeding program in North America and one of the oldest in the world.”
As my patio plants die off, I find myself with a depressing array of empty patio pots. It would sure feel nice to put on some gardening gloves and plant something new and colorful. Is there someplace in town that has a good selection of mums?
Also, Greengirl reader Rhiannon is looking for a shrub variety called “My Favorite Mum.” Is there some place local she should check out?
When I surf the net I find a lot of information on it, but no retailer information to purchase “My Favorite Mum.” I am sad to say that I am only just hearing about this new Mum after purchasing 30 large “hardy” mums from our local nursery. I appreciate any instight/information anyone can provide on where to find these “monster mums”.
As always, thanks for your help!
Rhiannon, you could check with Faribault Growers for My Favorite Mum. They grow an extensive assortment of mums. A few years ago the U had a mum called Betty Lou that was supposed to grow very big the second year. Could it have been re-named to My Favorite Mum? Faribault Growers website is http://www.faribaultgrowersinc.com. Good Luck!
The Web says Monrovia, the wholesalers, sell a variation of these as Mammoth mums. At
http://www.monrovia.com/MonroviaWeb.nsf/8c104835579b67e18825685f006acdf8/36e3a4eb1744778f8825717e0072a68d!OpenDocument
is a find a retailer thingy.
I picked up some HUGE mums at the Mpls Farmer’s Market last weekend for $7 each… my arms nearly fell off when I carried them to the car.
The “My Favorite Mum”, developed out of the U of MN has been renamed “Mammoth Mum”. Bachman’s Garden Centers carry these mums, in a variety of colors. Make sure you have the space for them, they really do get upwards to 3′ tall, like a shrub!
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