An Open Letter To Michigan’s ‘State Flower’

No, this is not a love letter to the Apple Blossom. While pretty, we all know those big orange things that line our roadways every summer are the real "official" blossoms of our state.

Still don't know what we're talking about here? It's the construction cone and it deserves respect.

So, dear traffic cone, you sure do make travel a pain in the butt, but we get it.

There is work to be done to make the very roads we travel a bit better and you help keep the people doing it safe.

I know many people completely disregard you, do what they want anyways because they are in a hurry or whatever other lame excuse they have but just know there are people out there who believe in the power you hold.

Think about it, the construction cone stands, maybe a little shaky at times, easy to knock down, but still stands as a symbol of progress, of hard work and of protection.

Sure, you're pretty fun for college kids to steal on drunken walks home at night...sorry. But maybe it's because they really think you're just that cool!

In a state where it snows about eight months out of the year, there is so much work and only so little time so, naturally, we understand you bloom most in the summer.

So you keep doing you, construction cones and I know I'm among those who will continue to use you as a guide when things get messy.

They say when driving through construction zones, just because it's not your family working out there, it's someone's. So thank you for keeping families safe.

Keep blooming you beautiful, big bright, orange construction cone. Just like our state flower, the Apple Blossom, we appreciate you while you're around.