2022年11月02日 VOA慢速英語：菊花：每年帶來美麗的秋花

 

As the weather turns colder in some parts of the world, signs of autumn begin to appear. The leaves of some trees turn bright shades of red, yellow, and orange.
隨著世界某些地區(qū)天氣轉(zhuǎn)冷，秋天的跡象開始出現(xiàn)。一些樹的葉子變成明亮的紅色、黃色和橙色。
 
At this time of the year depending on your location, you may also see a familiar flower: chrysanthemums. We often call them "mums," for short.
在一年中的這個時候，根據(jù)您所在的位置，您可能還會看到一種熟悉的花：菊花。我們經(jīng)常簡稱他們?yōu)?ldquo;媽媽”。
 
In parts of the United States, many people use chrysanthemums as decorations. The flowers sit next to pumpkins for Halloween, October's famous holiday. But then the mums are thrown away along with rotting jack o' lanterns.
在美國的部分地區(qū)，很多人用菊花作為裝飾品。萬圣節(jié)，十月的著名節(jié)日，鮮花坐在南瓜旁邊。但隨后媽媽們和腐爛的南瓜燈一起被扔掉了。
 
This yearly tradition bothered plant expert Jessica Damiano. In a recent article for the Associated Press, she wanted to know why people simply threw away their mums. So, she asked some of her neighbors in Long Island, New York.
這個每年一度的傳統(tǒng)困擾著植物專家杰西卡·達米亞諾。在美聯(lián)社最近的一篇文章中，她想知道為什么人們干脆扔掉他們的媽媽。因此，她詢問了紐約長島的一些鄰居。
 
Everyone had the same answer: They thought the flowers were annuals -- flowers that only last for one season.
每個人都有相同的答案：他們認為這些花是一年生的——花只能持續(xù)一個季節(jié)。
 
Damiano explained that there are annual and perennial mums. Perennials come back for several growing seasons. Garden chrysanthemums, she adds, are actually perennials. Annual chrysanthemums are often sold in stores as potted gift plants. Special plant stores usually sell perennial mums.
Damiano 解釋說，有一年生和多年生的媽媽。多年生植物會在幾個生長季節(jié)回來。她補充說，花園菊花實際上是多年生植物。一年生菊花通常作為盆栽禮品植物在商店出售。特殊植物商店通常出售多年生植物。
 
If the plants are not labeled at a store, Damiano said to look at the leaves. The large, flat leaves of perennial mums have deep cuts around the edges. The narrow leaves of annuals do not.
如果植物沒有在商店貼上標簽，達米亞諾說要看葉子。多年生植物大而扁平的葉子邊緣有很深的切口。一年生植物的狹窄葉子沒有。
 
Perennial mums are hardy flowers. But they cannot survive freezing temperatures. They also cannot survive extreme summer heat. So, that means about half of the United States is good for growing mums.
多年生的媽媽是耐寒的花朵。但它們無法在冰凍的溫度下生存。他們也無法在極端的夏季高溫中生存。因此，這意味著大約一半的美國適合成長中的媽媽。
 
Perennial chrysanthemums, Damiano said, come from China. Kaifeng, a city in China's Henan province, is famous for its mums. Each year, the city holds a popular festival to celebrate the flowers. Chrysanthemum festivals are also held in other countries -- like Pakistan, Germany, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, to name a few.
達米亞諾說，多年生菊花來自中國。中國河南省開封市以媽媽聞名。每年，這座城市都會舉辦一個流行的節(jié)日來慶祝鮮花。菊花節(jié)也在其他國家舉行——如巴基斯坦、德國、韓國、日本和美國，僅舉幾例。
 
Chrysanthemums come in shades of orange, red, rust, pink, purple, yellow, cream, and white. Some can grow to nearly one meter in height. They reach their mature size in about three years. In warmer climates, they bloom again in spring.
菊花有橙色、紅色、鐵銹色、粉紅色、紫色、黃色、奶油色和白色。有些可以長到近一米高。它們在大約三年內(nèi)達到成熟的大小。在溫暖的氣候中，它們在春天再次開花。
 
Planting tips
種植技巧
 
Here are some chrysanthemum planting tips.
這里有一些菊花種植技巧。
 
Plant mums in well-draining soil. And plant them as early in the season as possible. Spring is the best time -- if you can find them at plant stores. In the United States, that can be difficult.
在排水良好的土壤中種植媽媽。并盡可能早地種植它們。春天是最好的時間——如果你能在植物商店找到它們。在美國，這可能很困難。
 
Damiano said she has done well with fall plantings. But that might not work if temperatures drop below freezing within six to eight weeks of planting. So, she added, there is a risk.
達米亞諾說她在秋季種植方面做得很好。但如果溫度在種植后的六到八周內(nèi)降至冰點以下，這可能行不通。因此，她補充說，存在風險。
 
Adding compost to the soil improves drainage. It is also a good idea to set the plant into the ground at the same depth as it was growing in its container.
在土壤中添加堆肥可以改善排水。將植物放入與容器中生長相同的深度也是一個好主意。
 
Make sure there is enough space between plants to prevent crowding. Planting the mums too close together can lead to mold, mildew, and fungal diseases. If plants become overgrown, separate them in spring after new growth appears.
確保植物之間有足夠的空間以防止擁擠。將媽媽種植得太近會導致霉菌、霉菌和真菌病害。如果植物長得太大，在春天出現(xiàn)新的生長后將它們分開。
 
Mums grow best in full sun with moist soil. So, do not let the soil dry out. It is also a good idea to fertilize them regularly. The flowers are heavy feeders.
媽媽們在充足的陽光和潮濕的土壤中生長最好。所以，不要讓土壤變干。定期給它們施肥也是一個好主意?；ㄊ浅林氐娘曫B(yǎng)者。
 
Put mulch around the plants to help keep up the soil moisture and keep out unwanted plants. Add more mulch after the ground has frozen. This protects roots from freezing then warming then freezing again.
在植物周圍放置覆蓋物，以幫助保持土壤水分并阻止不需要的植物。地面結(jié)冰后添加更多覆蓋物。這可以防止根部凍結(jié)然后變暖然后再次凍結(jié)。
 
When plants stop growing, leave them in the garden over the winter. The above-ground plant matter, although dry, will help to further protect roots. Cut back the dry plant matter in spring after new growth emerges.
當植物停止生長時，把它們留在花園里過冬。地上植物物質(zhì)雖然干燥，但有助于進一步保護根系。在新的生長出現(xiàn)后，在春季減少干燥的植物物質(zhì)。
 
Starting in their third year, cut back one-third of the plants' growth three times per season: at the beginning and middle of June and again during the first week of July. Do not worry if you remove small flower buds. This will lead to more blooms and create fuller, bushier plants.
從第三年開始，每個季節(jié)三次減少三分之一的植物生長：6 月初和中旬，7 月的第一周再次減少。如果您去除小花蕾，請不要擔心。這將導致更多的花朵，并創(chuàng)造出更飽滿、更濃密的植物。
 
If chrysanthemums are not hardy in your zone, you can still enjoy them.
如果您所在地區(qū)的菊花不耐寒，您仍然可以享受它們。
 
Potted mums do not do well in the heat. So, do not buy them in late summer. They will survive better and longer if you wait until temperatures cool.
盆栽媽媽在高溫下表現(xiàn)不佳。所以，不要在夏末買。如果你等到溫度變涼，它們會活得更好、更久。
 
With potted mums, move them inside overnight if temperatures drop to freezing. Water thoroughly when the soil dries out. But again, do not let the plants stay dry for too long. The plants should remain alive until spring, when you can bring them back outdoors.
對于盆栽媽媽，如果溫度降至冰點，請將它們移到室內(nèi)過夜。當土壤變干時徹底澆水。但同樣，不要讓植物長時間保持干燥。植物應(yīng)該一直存活到春天，那時你可以把它們帶回戶外。
 
Do the same in warmer climates. Damiano warns that when spring or summer temperatures get too hot – between 27 and 31 degrees Celsius -- bring the plants indoors. Do not bring them outdoors again until things cool down in autumn.
在溫暖的氣候中做同樣的事情。達米亞諾警告說，當春季或夏季氣溫過熱時——在 27 到 31 攝氏度之間——將植物帶到室內(nèi)。在秋天天氣變涼之前，不要再把它們帶到戶外。