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Imagine a individual chrysanthemum plant life with 1,000 or more pure , uniform blooms that measures nearly 12 feet wide and take almost two year to produce . Could an average chrysanthemum really become so extraordinary ? It can at Longwood Gardens , one of the world ’s fine display garden , renowned for mature and showcasing ordinary plants in extraordinary ways .
locate in the affectionateness of Pennsylvania ’s historical Brandywine Valley , Longwood ’s out - of - this - cosmos horticultural displays change with each season . Perhaps no season is more awe - exalt than the Chrysanthemum Festival , which transmute the Gardens ’ four - acre indoor garden into a colored showcase of blooming mamma , including the showing ’s masterpiece : The Thousand Bloom .
The Thousand Bloom gain its name from the challenging destination of school a undivided chrysanthemum flora to bring out as many utterly identify blooms as possible . This ancient technique , known in Japan as Ozukuri , originated more than 200 years ago in Asia and is the most exacting and thought-provoking of all Chrysanthemum breeding panache .
“ A Thousand Bloom Chrysanthemum is one of the biggest admiration in the worldly concern of prime , ” said Longwood Gardens Director Paul Redman . “ Each class the challenge to raise one of the world ’s enceinte mummy is one of the most intensive horticultural efforts we engage in here at Longwood . ”
The rigorous , 18 - month growing proficiency involves meticulous watering , snarf and tying of the chrysanthemum to a customized wire frame of reference to civilize the plant to grow into the desired figure . The blooms are fastidiously arranged in a bean shape , with the end of attain as many uniform blooms as possible .
Only a few agriculturalist in the intact world today are skilled in the techniques of training a Thousand Bloom . Longwood Gardens ’ squad of growers is led by Yoko Arakawa , who has trained with master key chrysanthemum raiser in Japan and oft jaunt there to advance her understanding of this rarified art form .
Longwood has been raise a Thousand Bloom since 1994 . The first few eld yielded just a few hundred blooms on the plant , but last year , a U.S. record - breaking 991 blooms was accomplish and this year the chrysanthemum is on racecourse to produce more than 1,000 blooms .
The Thousand Bloom will be on display at Longwood Gardens ’ annual Chrysanthemum Festival , which guide October 24 through November 22 . The innovative display is celebrating its thirtieth year and features 20,000 blooming chrysanthemum grown in extraordinary ways throughout Longwood ’s 4 - acre indoor garden . See towering arch , shields , sphere and more unusual forms forge from mums . In all , more than 34 million pinches , 3 miles of wire , and more than 10,000 twist ties will be used to create the Festival ’s one - of - a - form exhibit .
Extraordinary , indeed .
To see the Longwood squad of growers work out to create these beautiful chrysanthemum - creationsCLICK HERE .
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