Fall Chrysanthemum Show
The Fall Chrysanthemum Show traditionally ran the first two weeks of November, and was a way to take in the final pops of color before winter settled in around campus.
Historically, the annual Smith College Chrysanthemum Show displayed mum hybrids bred by students in the horticulture class. Students crossed mums in the collection, creating new flower forms. Visitors voted each year for their favorites and winners were inducted into the Mum Show Hall of Fame. (Photos dating back to the 1920s document student mum show winners.)
Over time, the Fall Mum Show grew bigger and botanic garden staff and horticulture students would begin preparing for the chrysanthemum show months ahead to ensure that everything was ready on opening night, which was always on the first Saturday of November. The show traditionally ran the first two weeks of November, and was a way to take in the final pops of color before winter settled on the campus.
In 2024, the botanic garden put on a final Fall Mum Show to make way for a new era of botanical exhibits. The mum show required significantly more time, resources, space, and chemical inputs, than its springtime counterpart, the bulb show. These challenges were hindering the ability to build the kind of programming and displays that align best with our strategic plan.
While the show has come to a close, you can still enjoy images from previous mum shows.
