Unless you are a botanist or a scientist you most likely do not spend much time thinking about leaves. Not too long ago, I overheard a discussion on a local radio station. They were discussing the process trees go through that causes their leaves to change. The hosts were discussing how they had never heard of this information before and it surprised them.
What surprised me was that they had no clue how the leaves changed. I knew exactly why and feel like I learned this years ago and was confused about why they had not. I later saw a social media post where the person who posted info about leaves changing. They too and many of the folks commenting were also shocked at not knowing that info. I feel like I was in middle school or elementary science class when I learned this process. Maybe I was weird and learned it on my own, who knows. I loved science growing up. Mostly learning about how things work and interact together.
In short, trees begin a process of pulling all of the nutrients of the leaves and the chlorophyll in the leaves begins to shut down. This process causes the chlorophyll to change from its normal green to the vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds.
The leaves had started to change early when I spent some time with my mom in late August. I have been watching them at my new place as well. As if overnight the leaves changed and then fell in one giant gesture saying that fall is over and winter is here.
Visiting my mom for a long weekend this past weekend nearly all the trees are bare and the bright color is now gone. A drab brown now covers the ground and treeline. Now that the leaves are no longer on the trees you can see all kinds of things that you are not been able to see during the rest of the year. Barns, houses, and all kinds of other hidden things that are now visible.
Growing up and living in the midwest as an adult you tend to see it happen but I had never really noticed it. Living in the southwest we did not have the same type of change from Fall to winter. After not seeing it for so long and then coming back to it I suppose you see things differently.
Anyway, just a little something I noticed and thought I would share.
More next week.
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