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| Grown by Pat Stockett Johnston |
I’d like to introduce you to Pat, who recently took up the fascinating hobby of growing mums. She is quite the firecracker herself as she always has the gusto to try something new. Pat is a member of my writers critique group and has just published a clever book entitled, "Mums the Word: Secrets to Growing Chrysanthemums for Home and Show." I say clever, because she explains her craft in simple fashion and if you follow her advice, everyone will think you are quite a clever gardener.
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| Grown by Pat |
The book was published by G8 Press. To take a look at her book go here.
Pat is a very interesting person aside from growing mums. I caught up with her the other day and asked if she would tell us a little about her life.
Pat, tell us what countries
you have lived in and a little about your work.
I lived overseas for 34 years as
a career missionary with the Church of the Nazarene. Our first seven years were
in Beirut, Lebanon—a beautiful, fascinating country, reeking with ancient
history. The ruins of Byblos, Sidon, and
Baalbek are fabulous. The Lebanese Civil War forced us to leave the country.
Next we were assigned to Amman,
Jordan, for five years. Still Arabic-speaking people, but with 95% of the
people followers of Islam. This high, desert country had its own beauty. And
Amman was an intriguing, beautiful city. Plus the whole country was an
archeological site. We especially enjoyed Petra, Pella, the Roman ruins of the
city of Jerash, Jesus’ Baptismal Site at the Jordan River, and the Dead Sea.
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Our last seven years were spent
back in Amman. Jordan had signed a peace treaty with Israel while we were in Papua New Guinea, so
that allowed us many opportunities to visit Israel. A 3-week History and
Geography course at Jerusalem College University gave us the opportunity to
see the country—Dan to Beersheba, Jericho to Haifa. I’d visit Israel at the drop
of a hat. Never got tired of visiting biblical sites there.
Did you cultivate any
gardens when you were in the Middle East?
We mostly lived in high-rise apartment buildings in the
Middle East that offered no private gardens. But that didn't matter, for I had
a brown thumb. No house plant survived for more than a month under my care!
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| Grown by Pat |
Ha! Ha! That's hard to believe.
You have published several books about your experiences
overseas. Is this your first gardening book?
Previously I wrote seven books for my church’s missions
education program. The fact that I could actually keep a plant alive for more
than a month was surprising. The fact that I can grow beautiful, prize-winning
chrysanthemums is a miracle.
Well if you can, maybe we can too!
How is the book doing? Any interesting calls for copies?
The publisher has not provided
me with the number of books that have sold. But I do know that Kings Mums
catalog is selling the book in its 2013 catalog for rooted mums cuttings.
Is it really true that ANYONE can grow mums? What about those of us with a “brown
thumb”.
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| www.flowers.vg/flowers/mum01.htm |
I think it’s important to have mentoring when trying out new
activities. I joined the Descanso Chrysanthemum Society and its members shed
light on how to grow them. But like most plants, mums need good soil,
fertilizer, watering, insecticides, and regular care. Show mums are grown in
pots, and demand only six hours of sun a day. Honestly, if I can grow them,
anyone can!
I am stunned by the variety and different styles and
colors of the Mums. How many kinds of Mums
are there?
There are 13 classes of mums grown for show exhibitions.
Here’s the link to my YouTube 1-minute video that shows an example of each
class bloom.
Oh my goodness—that was beautiful! Readers---go here and watch the gentle dance of 13 mums.
Oh my goodness—that was beautiful! Readers---go here and watch the gentle dance of 13 mums.
In your book, I like the step by step instructions with pictures…for example,
the section “How to Plant Cuttings from Last Years’ Mums”. Who took the pictures of your hands
performing the tasks?
My husband Gordon took the pictures. We are a mums-growing team. He does the watering, fertilizing, transferring to
bigger pots, and sprays for insects and worms. I have smaller hands, so I
disbud unwanted new growth and stake the stems. We make a great team!
How can we purchase a book?
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| Grown by Pat |
At amazon.com. Learn more about me on my author’s page by
going to the Mums the Word Amazon page and clicking on my name.
Thank you for all the work you have done to help us
grow these beautiful flowers.
Your welcome!
Click here to visit Pat's blog.
Your welcome!
Click here to visit Pat's blog.
