Overhead and Underfoot

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to shuffle and snuffle through the great piles of leaves that have fallen to the ground.  The rich aroma of drying and decaying leaves brings to mind various autumnal associations; blustery chill winds, swirling flocks of migratory birds, the crackling of a cozy fall campfire complete with hot dogs... mmm, hot dogs!  But, I digress.

While crunching through the piles of leaves on the ground can be fun, it is the leaves that remain on the trees that offer the greatest entertainment value.  While many trees have already dropped their leaves in preparation for the cold winter ahead, our majestic native oaks are holding on to theirs, and displaying an amazing array of rich saffrons, bronzes, umbers, and mahoganies.

Few people realize that these beautiful fall colors are actually the true colors of the leaves.  The colors of fall are always present in the leaf, from the moment it erupts from its bud. 

The green color comes from chlorophyll, which the tree uses to convert solar energy into sugars to feed itself through the process known as photosynthesis.  The vibrant green color of chlorophyll covers the other pigments in the leaf throughout the summer months. 

However, as winter approaches and the days grow shorter, the tree stops the process of photosynthesis as it prepares to enters dormancy for the season.  At this time, the tree stops producing chlorophyll, and the green pigment fades away, revealing the true colors of the leaves beneath! 

Our deciduous trees, those that lose their leaves in the fall, actually do so as a means of water conservation.  Leaves are a liability throughout the dry, cold winter months.  Trees take up water through their roots, and lose water through their leaves.  In the winter, when the ground is frozen, there is no water to take up.  The trees drop their leaves in an effort to keep from withering up over the long winter months.

Just like the rest of us, our trees have to prepare themselves for the cold season ahead.  You should do the same!  Get out your winter outerwear, dust off your boots, and take an excursion out into the late autumnal woods to revel in the beauty of the oak trees.  Take some photos and send them in to the blog, along with your comments.

Winter is just around the corner, and it brings with it many new ways in which we can PLAY OUTSIDE!