A new-found love for 'mums'

LUDHIANA: City residents' love for roses and bougainvillea - the most common flowers spotted at the house of any nature enthusiast - is fast being replaced by a new-found appreciation for chrysanthemums.
Indulging in their latest fancy, several Ludhianvis visited Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) on Thursday, the first day of a chrysanthemum show that has been organized on campus between December 1 and 4.
The show has on display 200 varieties of the seasonal flower, of which 17 have been grown by PAU and seven are of hybrid kind.
Yashpal Chadha, 68, a resident of Haibowal Kalan who enjoys gardening said, "My wife Raman and I love flowers. We have a small terrace garden where we have various varieties of bougainvillea and roses. But I would love to have chrysanthemums at this time of the year because it gives a unique look.''
Chadha added that he visits the flower show at PAU every year and buys new varieties of flowers. "I specially like Kikobury and Mother Teresa varieties,'' he said.
Retired government officer B K Rikhi, a resident of BRS Nagar, went to the flower show with his neighbour and friend A S Bhullar. "Though I like roses and bougainvillaea a lot, chrysanthemums have their own significance. It is flower that fills the gap between summer and winter flowers. I think it is catching the eye of more Ludhianavis these days,'' said Rikhi, 72. Bhullar chipped in that he likes obsession, Kelvin Mandarin and Ratlam varieties. "We will buy around a dozen pots of chrysanthemum on December 4, when PAU will sell the flowers after exhibiting them.''
Kushal Singh, head of department of floriculture, landscaping department, said they are expecting many more city residents to come for the show and enjoy the beauty of this flower. "Chrysanthemums are usually planted as a cutting but its seed can also be sown,'' he said. tnn