Potted plants, aliens and tradition. My thoughts on fall.

Well friends, it’s that time of year – and I can officially say that I have done my civic duty. No, I’m not talking about voting (I did that too). I’m talking about putting mums on my porch.

Somehow, at some point, someone decided that the fall season doesn’t officially begin until those chrysanthemums make their appearance on porches everywhere. Dead summer plants land curb-side, while colourful fall pots appear in their place. Summer hues swiftly replaced with the best autumn colours. And every year when this happens, the same silly thought runs through my mind.

>> BRACE YOURSELF <<

What if aliens landed on earth in October? They’d coast our towns late at night, evading detection in their highly advanced UFOs. Their Star Trek-like scanners registering each house, noting the same damn plants on every door step. They’d wonder (I imagine) why our decor looks so similar and if perhaps the mums were mandated by our leader. Heck – I’m actually starting to wonder myself.

At a time when we live and die by Pinterest and Instagram – how is it that we all feel the need to buy the same plants – at the same time of year, every year? Hmm.

Sure – not every mum is identical. Some are yellow, some pink, others purple or orange. Some fancy it up with succulents, tall grass, cabbage leaves or tiny peppers with kale (spotted this year!). I see you horticulturalist friends and appreciate the effort – but this is still a giant mystery that I need solved. I don’t remember any of this when I was a kid.

Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong on the newness of this mum-frenzy. When you’re the kid of immigrants – you usually miss things like this (this, and parties at the cool kid’s house). Fat chance my folks would have spent money on a plant they were going to throw out in a month.

Regardless, I think I’ve managed to make it work for our family. It’s unlikely my kids will look back with pride – but at least they’ll remember mums on their damn porch. If all goes according to house norms, ours will be dead by Halloween. Just in time to incorporate them into my not-so-elaborate ‘spooky’ décor. Look at me creating new traditions!

IF you can shed light on mum-apalooza, please weigh in! In the meantime, happy autumn to all my four- season friends! Weird traditions aside – there’s nothing better.