KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Among the many fall traditions and activities in Michigan is a plant with a funny name and a variety of colors that are starting to hop of stores shelves around the state. Mums the word for fall, plant-wise anyway.
While in places like Texas and Oklahoma you’ll find the plant, technically a chrysanthemum, associated with football and an expression of fondness between two young people. But mums in our latitude are garden or plant container dwellers and offer a ground-level shot of color to rival, or compliment, that of the maples and oaks overhead.
Red, gold, orange, purple and white–mums are at their peak right now in Michigan where they do well in our sandy soils. Garden hardy mums will overwinter and provide a shot of color next season as other flowers start to droop and fade.
Part of the season in Michigan, like apple cider and changing leaves you’re seeing them a lot at retail outlets right now. Mums the word.
