From “An Impression of Chrysanthemums” in Chrysanthemum (Botanical) by Twigs Way:
“One of several Japanese exhibitions of the early nineteenth century, [the ‘Japan-British Exhibition’ of 1910] was driven by Japan’s desire to improve public relations and encourage tourism following the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Based at White City in London, it was the largest foreign exposition that the empire of Japan had ever participated in and lasted over five months. There were more than 2,000 exhibitors of arts, crafts and technology housed alongside two large Japanese gardens complete with tea tents where the famous tea ceremony was enacted….
“These gardens were designed as authentic Japanese gardens rather than the hybrid Anglo-Japanese style that had already infiltrated both England and France, and they were constructed from scratch at the exhibition site. Trees, shrubs, wooden buildings, bridges, and even stones, were brought in from Japan as well as the actual designers and gardeners. The two gardens were named the Garden of the Floating Isle (replete with Japanese tea-house) and the Garden of Peace. Although not rich in flowers, instead focusing on the ‘architectural’ elements and layout of a traditional Japanese garden, they gave further impetus to quasi-Japanese gardens and planting in England….
“Visited by 8 million people between 14 May and 29 October, they gave a boost to the popularity of plants such as the orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, all of which began to appear in even the most ‘popular’ of gardening books. In 1911 the Chokushi-Mon (Gateway of the Imperial Messenger) from the exhibition was moved to Kew Gardens, where its stylized flower and animal carving can still be seen, including of course the chrysanthemum emblem.”
From “The Old Tea Master of Kyoto” by Antoinette Rotan Peterson in Lotus and Chrysanthemum: An Anthology of Chinese and Japanese Poetry, selected and edited by Joseph Lewis French:
Our race has given to the world
A matchless art in all things small.
This lacquered box with dragonflies impearled
And gold chrysanthemums against a wall
Of silvery rocks where runs a quail to cover
Upon a ground of purest cinnabar,
Shall we not rightly reverence it
And make our conversation fit
The artist’s great achievement over
A strange intractable material,
The ceremonial tea occasion gives
For studious contemplation of the arts
And never bidden guest departs
But feels anew that Beauty lives
With power to lift man’s hearts….
Hello!
This is the last of three posts featuring photographs of late-2024 mums from Oakland Cemetery’s gardens showing off their yellow, orange, and gold colors. The first post is Mums in Yellow, Orange, and Gold (1 of 3) and the second post is Mums in Yellow, Orange, and Gold (2 of 3).
Thanks for taking a look!
