Blooms and Bedlam: The 1916 Chrysanthemum Spectacle
This botanical history post was featured on The Daily Gardener podcast:
November 13, 1916
On this day, dear garden enthusiasts, we find ourselves transported to the halls of Washington D.C., where the 16th annual chrysanthemum flower show had just unfurled its petals to the delight of the masses.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette shared a most charming account of the event, and I simply must regale you with the details.
Picture, if you will, a greenhouse bursting at the seams with eager flower admirers, their faces aglow with anticipation.
A guard, his patience wearing as thin as a delicate petal, was heard to remark:
If you ever get the idea that people aren't interested in flowers, just give a flower show.
The poor man had spent his morning tirelessly directing the throng with cries of "Keep to the right!"
One can only imagine the scene – a veritable river of humanity flowing through the aisles, their collective enthusiasm threatening to overwhelm the very blooms they came to admire.
Alas, in their fervor, some overzealous visitors caused quite the kerfuffle, resulting in the unfortunate demise of several prized specimens.
Our beleaguered guard, no doubt longing for the peace of a secluded garden, lamented:
Sometimes people take entirely too much interest in flowers.
If you don't watch them they break them off and take them home as souvenirs.
Oh, the audacity!
To think that one would stoop to such botanical larceny!
But let us not dwell on these thorny individuals, for the true spirit of the show was one of genuine horticultural passion.
Indeed, the Department of Agriculture's annual chrysanthemum extravaganza, mirrored in grand cities across the nation, bore witness to a blossoming interest in chrysanthemum cultivation.
Imagine the scene: wide-eyed visitors, their fingers itching to dig into rich soil, inquiring with barely contained excitement:
Where can I buy seeds of such varieties as this?
Their gaze would flit from the majestic white "Queen Mary" to the dainty lavender pompons, each bloom a testament to nature's artistry.
This year's show was a veritable feast for the senses, boasting over 250 varieties of chrysanthemums.
The greenhouse, my dear readers, was described as nothing short of "a riot of color," with yellows and lavenders reigning supreme.
One can almost smell the heady perfume of countless blooms, feel the humid air heavy with floral essence.
It seems that with each passing year, the allure of the chrysanthemum grows stronger.
While national shows have graced our calendars for 16 years, never before had such a throng of admirers descended upon the event.
As we reflect on this grand display of horticultural enthusiasm, let us take a moment to appreciate the enduring power of flowers to captivate and inspire.
May we, in our own gardens, cultivate not just blooms, but the same passion that drew those eager crowds in Washington D.C. so many years ago.
Until our next botanical journey through time, dear readers, may your chrysanthemums bloom with abandon and your flower shows be free from overzealous souvenir hunters!