Chrysanthemum’s The Word For November!

The word is out about the birth month flower for November.

Corny puns aside, the Chrysanthemum is the official birth month flower of November. Chrysanthemums are a wonderful gift because the flower meanings of Chrysanthemum are love and cheerfulness. Who wouldn’t want to wish someone a happy birthday with such positive greetings?

I remember sitting around the yard after a Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Just before sunset but before the turkey coma, most of the children and a few of the adults would gather in our front yard to work off the large meal. We could always count on my mother to have lavish fall decorations adorning our yard. Pumpkins, bales of hay, oddly cheery scarecrows, and a heaping helping of chrysanthemums flowed about the yard such that it always seemed like the place to be during harvest time.

My favorite person to watch during these times was my grandfather. His birthday fell on Thanksgiving every few years so often we would celebrate two holidays at once. Little did I know how handy that habit would become as an adult. My grandfather has been a farmer for more than 70 years. His favorite time of the year is the harvest time which winds down for him around November. Just in time to celebrate his birthday, the leaves begin to fall and the sun paints the sky with grandiose hues of orange, yellow, red, and purple. It’s hard to match that kind of beauty in a unique birthday gift but I try.

This year, the three children in my family have chipped in to create one of those festive fall decorations displays in my grandfather’s yard. Having recently purchased his new city home after decades of country living, my grandfather still seems to pine for the country. My brother, sister, and myself have all of the trimmings ready to create a masterful display of pumpkins, bales of hay, oddly cheery scarecrows, and a heaping helping of chrysanthemums flowing about his yard. After all, our 80-something grandfather is a constant reminder of endurance, graceful aging, integrity and tenacity. If we can show him our love and bring him some cheer on his birthday this November, we can rest well knowing that we gave even an ounce of that goodness back to someone who has never ceased to love us.

If major planning seems like too much for your November birthday celebration, contact your local florist for a cheery Chrysanthemum arrangement.