Pix Of The Day: How To Be Happy For A Lifetime
CREDITS: © Charles Winpenny/CornwallCAM.co.uk
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A Chinese philosopher said, "If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow Chrysanthemums." Affectionately known as 'Chrysanths' and 'Mums' in the Occident, their ancient Chinese name was 'Chu'. The flower was exported first to Japan, where it became revered, then in the 17th century to Europe. In 1753 Karl Linnaeus, the Swedish father of botany, combined the Greek words chrysos, meaning gold, with anthemon, meaning flower. Our preference is for 'Mums'.

Chrysanthemums are the largest commercial flower crop in the USA, due to ease of cultivation, capability to bloom on schedule, diversity of bloom forms and colors, and holding quality of the blooms. Though they bring joy to many, in some places such as Belgium, and Austria, Chrysanthemums are generally used as a memorial flower on graves. Well, that never stopped us liking Arum lilies, traditionally a funeral flower in the UK: known as Callum lilies in the USA, they are often carried by brides!

You may read a fuller history of the Chrysanthemum on the web site of the National Chrysanthemum Society USA (NCS-USA), which is hosted in the wonderfully named Internet domain of Mums.org. If you want your life to be not only happy but also long and ahem… rewarding, perhaps the Chrysanthemum Tea With Ginseng that we found online might do the trick. In Chinese mythology, a Chrysanthemum that has been used to wipe one's lips after drinking wine, and then given to a beloved, will ensure undying love and fidelity. We are unable to offer warranties for any of these claims, which we have not yet been able to test in our laboratories.

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On This Day In 2002: Buttermere Lakeland Classic - Tue, 15 Oct 2002
CREDIT: © Andrew Leaney/Leaney.org page for 13 October 2002
MAPS: [1] Region [2] District [3] Location

A few days ago we featured a Langdale Lakeland Classic. This is a Classic in another valley. If it was possible to wear mountains away by taking photographs of them, then this one would feature among the early losses. The last time we ascended the col on the right hand side of the picture there was some British Royal Wedding or other event in progress. A teenaged girl was sitting by the path with a transistor radio held to her ear, weeping and making all kinds of public fuss and comment to anyone who passed within range.

We joined a solitary walker at the view point to take in the wondrous view down the length of the lakes of Buttermere and Crummock Water, which the nearby radio audience was ignoring. After a minute or two of otherwise silent contemplation, we remarked softly beneath the distant sobbing, "Should we throw her over the edge?" After a few moments of further silence, with a jerk of his head, he asked tersely, "Her or the Royal Personage?" Mountain perspectives are so nourishing to the spirit.

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