BLASPHEMY, I KNOW, BUT I AM NOT MUCH OF A MUM TYPE. Ditto with roses: I might have two, but that’s about the sum of my interest (and twice the number I have of chrysanthemums). When so-called ‘Will’s Wonderful’ gets going around Halloween, though, I’m glad I’m not down to zero on the mum score. He’s a bawdy ending to a season here that had some pretty bawdy early acts, too.
I found ‘Will’ (along with many other good things over the years) at Seneca Hill Perennials. Owner Ellen Hornig dubbed the plant ‘Will’s Wonderful’ because it was given to her by someone named Will, not because either of them knows its actual name. You could read her version rather than suffer my retelling….except it seems to have been removed from her catalog site. (Update September 2009: Ellen is no longer selling it, so meantime consider another pink, maybe ‘Cambodian Queen,’ from the selection at Lazy S’s. ‘Sheffield Pink,’ which they also have, is lovely, too, but not bawdy. Hopefully next year, ‘Will’ finds a new retail home.)
What Ellen and I both like about ‘Will’ is that he shows up extra-late, just when you have given up on anything daring to flower, and also the indescribable way he colors up and then fades: a sequence of shocking hues, one nicer than the next. Like I said, I can’t describe it, exactly, but it starts with red buds, opens to what you see above (a three-tone show of vivid pink, white and gold) and then proceeds to fade in the nicest way eventually, to a golden-straw color with a dark pink edge. It does this evolution (devolution?) in the garden, and also in a vase.
The plant is one of the hardiest souls around my place, returning unfailingly year after year, and also one of the most enthusiastic. If 4 or 5 million of you need divisions, just let me know.
learning to love another mum: ‘sheffield pink’ 
slideshow: perennial stars of early may 
Yes, I’d love a division, if you’re handing them out.
I have only one type of mum–in pots. I’m still trying to love them. Yours is certainly beautiful and a variety previously unknown to me. That’s why blogging is so great…we get to ‘visit’ other gardens.
Cameron
PS Margaret, please stop by my blog on Veterans Day.
I’m featuring an 89 year-old gardener who served in WWII. He wrote his own story and I’m publishing it for him. Mr. Teasley is so sweet. I’d love for him to have lots of readers. His entry at the North Carolina State Fair won a blue ribbon!
I thought I was the only one who’d put roses in the same camp as mums and chrysanthemums!
I do have one rose in my current garden, brought with me from the last, and it’s the only rose I’ve liked having around — it’s pale yellow and fades to ivory, which is what the person who gave it to me didn’t like about it.
But then I don’t really do flowers (I’m trying, though). My fall/winter bloomers are aloes and euphorbias. And all the camellias that came with the place.
here in Michigan it snowed last night. The woodstove is blasting. And outside my office window is the hardiest nasturtium I have ever had. It has three (countem) blooms goin strong and looking like the snow is no bother at all. Brussel sprouts are hanging in there too, but that is to be expected.
Wow! I have never heard of these. I am going to check out these Johnny-Come-Latelies:-)
It is awfully nice.
ooh – If you’re giving some away … and you’re coming in this direction … ! (I’m sure we could come up with a fair trade.)
I love anything that changes color with blooms coming and going at the same time. We have a rose that does that, come to think of it (Rosa mutabilis) but then I am a little addicted to the challenge of roses.
Margaret…I don’t buy mums anymore because they get zapped by the first frost. Ornamental kale is much better and lasts the whole winter.
I love the mums in large groupings at farm stands though…see my recent photo/post:
http://contentinacottage.blogspot.com/2008/11/fall-is-full-of-chrysanthemums.html
Best regards, Rosemary
I just wanted to let you know how much joy your blog brings me. I used to be an avid gardener and due to failed back surgery I no longer can lose myself among the dirt and flowers and butterflies. Reading your blog allows me to revel in the loveliness of your pictures and words.
Sincerely,
Janiece
Welcome, Janiece. Your message, while poignant, is much appreciated–the idea that the blog is bringing you a bit of the garden is a nice one. I am glad to do so, very glad.
I’m not a big fan of mums either, at least not the kind you find in garden centers in the fall as bedding plants. There are lots more interesting varieties, as you have discovered.
Hi Margaret
Thanks for the story, picture – and offer! Is Will less leggy than Clara Curtis, our unkillable, ever-spreading late mum? I love Clara’s subtle pink in this season of orange and bronze but despair of floppiness that no amount of spring pinching back seems to control.
Be happy to trade you some of those peonies I was just blogging about having to move. Now that I’ve started to dig them up it’s clear there are TONS. (Letting strong old peonies sit in the vegetable garden for 15 years was in retrospect not wise.)
Hi Margaret,
It looks like a very hardy soul. I would love to try the mum. Would you like a tree peony or some clivia plants from my own hybridizing program?
L.T. TRAN
Welcome, L.T. Come spring I will have to figure out a plant-distribution system for some of these abundant creatures, and we can do a swap! Thanks for visiting and so come again soon.
I LOVE CLARA CURTIS!!!!!! If you plant them in full sun they won’t be leggy. I love that they sprawl instead of looking like like heaps. They also stay rather confined and modest just until October, when they fairly spring up to be noticed. When they are in full bloom I have the urge to spread the joy all around next Spring, but that would be overkill.
Margaret’s mums are beautiful! And I want them very badly.
For years I have been wondering what kind of mum I had which only blooms in october. Thanks to you all I think it is Clara Curtis. Although it is a pale sort of flamingo pink color. No snow here on the jersey shore but lots of leaves leaves leaves to be raked up. Love your blog. Have been a fan of anne raver for many years now you!
I love ‘in your face’ kinda flowers! That one is definately there!!!
Am I a year late and a dollar short? Are you still doing divisions of this? I am a beginning gardener (my sister is finally on to me and I can no longer mooch produce from her :-)
If you are dividing, please let me know!
Welcome, Rebecca. I was hoping to find a commercial source again for everyone, and we shall see. If not, you never know…we might have to do a giveaway come spring from my million miles of it. See you soon again.
But that picture is beautiful. How can you not fall in love with it? Here’s how much I know about flowers. I thought that was a purple daisy :(
Hello Margaret,
I really look forward to reading your blog and emails when they show up in my inbox. I am very dissapointed that Wills Wonderful is not for sale anywhere. I would love to purchase a division or two or three from you if you are selling them. I am in NH….. Let me know and keep up the great gardening and writing!
Marion
Welcome, Marion. I have been trying to see if we can get it situated at a new nursery to make it available again, with help from friends…otherwise I may in fact have to send bits to people come spring! Maybe we can make it a contest or something, and everyone can win a piece of ‘Will’ (since I am not a nursery, I don’t think I can sell him!). Stay in touch here or by email, awaytogarden at gmail dot com, and we will figure out the ‘Will’ challenge.
Margaret, I am quite intrigued by your beautiful mum, I know this is an old post but I read all of them from beginning to end. I took the liberty of adding your link to my favorites on my web site. I hope you check it out at http://www.gardenerscoach.com. I am new at this so I would appreciate any comments. I love your site!
Patricia
@Patricia: Thanks, and yes, I did visit. I like to go see everyone who leaves a link here; so helpful to get a sense of who is reading. The mum is great, and I am hoping we can organize some distribution of it again by next spring. Stay tuned.
Maybe I am getting to old for this, but I can’t find out how to order some of the mums from your website. Where is the cart icon?
Thanks,
Annie
Welcome, Annie. No worry…here’s the scoop: I don’t sell anything, but I sometimes recommend sellers where I have found something I like, and link to them. In this case, it’s the nursery called Lazy S’s, and the link is in green type (all my green type indicates a link to something, unlike the black type). Lazy S’s catalog page that includes the mums for sale is here. Hope that makes it clearer. See you soon again!