No matter how many times I read the scientific explanation of why leaves turn colors in the fall, I always come away feeling that science falls short of pure magic when it comes to colored leaves.
Walking through autumn woods reminds me of being in an ice cream shop with an endless variety of flavors. All the colors are there – tangerine, black cherry, lemon, mango, peppermint, milk chocolate. And each leaf, with it’s unique color and shade, is a delight for those of us who love the woods.
Even though I often prefer magic to science, it IS nice to have a reason for why all this occurs. It’s not exactly complicated science.
Green leaves get their color from chlorophyll. Chlorophyll LOVES warmth and light so it can do its job of absorbing sunlight and transforming carbon dioxide and water into sugars and starch that provide nutrients for the tree. When the days get shorter and cooler, deciduous trees stop growing and become somewhat dormant, meaning they no longer need these nutrients. Chlorophyll begins to break down and disappear from leaves. Without this green pigment, the “true colors” of the leaves begin to show – generally yellows and oranges (from carotenoids). Leaves that turn red have additional pigments called anthocyanins, which only begin to develop in the fall
Scientists say that the best fall color occurs when there is a warm, wet spring, a summer that is neither too hot nor too dry and a fall that is long with warm days and cool – but not freezing – nights.
We’re not having a particularly spectacular leaf season this year, probably due to prolonged warm weather, but it doesn’t matter. Individual trees are catching fire and turning into molten plumes of glory and the woods become cathedrals with colors that outshine the most beautiful stained glass windows in the world. Do yourself a favor, take a walk through the woods this fall and celebrate the wonder of nature.
In celebration of Halloween, I’m writing about some of the creepy crawlies around my house and garden, in particular, spiders. This time of year, spiders are abundant as females lay eggs before cold weather settles in for good. Spiders vary tremendously in size and potential danger. Though there are a lot of people who are terrified of all spiders, for the most part, the common spiders in our area will not cause any serious harm.
Sometimes the best part of a major project is finishing it. Sometimes it’s what happens in the process and so it was with the “1,000 brownie challenge“. My 11 year old grandson, Rivers, decided in July that he wanted to make 1000 brownies for “people who serve our community and for people who never get home baked goods.” I thought it was an excellent community service project and promised to help him achieve his goal.
Long-leaf pines, Pinus palustris, are among the most beautiful, important and threatened of all southern trees. At one time long leaf pine ecosystems covered the southeastern United States, roughly 90 million acres. Today, a mere 3 1/2 million acres persist, mostly in South Georgia, Alabama and northern Florida.
So who needs long leaf pines? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that over 100 different species coexist in these ecosystems, making it one of the most diverse in the world. Today, long leaf pine forests support thirty species that are considered endangered or threatened. In addition, long leaf pines have the capacity to “clean the air” by absorbing harmful carbon pollution from the atmosphere.
The most common waterlily in our part of the world is the North American white water lily, Nymphaea odorata. This is a hardy water lily and generally blooms from May through September. As cold weather approaches, it goes into a dormant state and sinks to the bottom of the pool or pond. If you use this in a water garden, be careful that you don’t plant it where the water spills into ponds, lakes, creeks or other natural water system as it can become invasive. When water lilies cover too much of a water system, they shade out the sun, creating water that is too cold for many native plants and fish.
Probably the most interesting water lily is Victoria amazonia, named for Queen Victoria in 1837. Originally found growing in Bolivia in 1801, it is a remarkable plant. The leaves can grow up to 6 feet across and are composed of a series of ribs and air pockets, making each leaf surprisingly buoyant and strong. It is said that a leaf can support up to about 66 pounds.
Have you ever noticed? People “grab” a drink at the end of the day, or “run out” for a cup of coffee but always “meet” for a cup of tea. Tea, the most consumed beverage in the world (other than water) has always been surrounded by a mystical aura. My fascination with tea is decades old and resulted in my writing and publishing the book, Tea, The Drink that Changed the World in 2007. I am thrilled to announce that I have just updated this book and it has been reissued by Tuttle Publishing with the new title, A History of Tea, the Life and Times of the World’s Favorite Beverage.
I found Naked Ladies in my garden – but not in the Virgin’s Bower. I offered them Ladies’ Slippers and Blue Bonnets and even Indian Blankets! but they just shook their petals and said they were waiting for Bachelor Buttons.
Last weekend all the grownups in our family (except for the ones in Oregon and China) went to western North Carolina to stay at the incomparable Snowbird Lodge. I love my grandchildren without measure, but it was lovely to spend some adult time with our grown children. What treasures!
Ironweed is easily identified by its profusion of rich, magenta flowers. These plants bloom along southern roadsides from August through October. Ironweed was also valued for its medicinal qualities, particularly by the Cherokees. Both the leaves and roots were used, most often in a tea given during pregnancy and childbirth. The tea was also given to those suffering from stomach ulcers.
We just got back from a spectacular week in Oregon, visiting family. The weather was perfect and the grandchildren? What can I say? Absolutely adorable.
