The Joys of Autumn
10 October 2008
Autumn is always greeted with a mixture of emotions. Summer has definitely gone; no matter how optimistic one might be it is now that any hope of an ‘Indian summer’ is truly gone. No longer do we wake hoping to see a hot sunny day only to find, at least here in the UK, that the reality is grey skies and the only promise for the day is more grey dullness and summer showers. Summers are really beginning to let themselves down badly. However, autumn always arrives as billed with darker nights and mornings and the change from luscious green to crispy coppers and golds. That is why for me autumn has to be the most reliable and satisfying season.
Mornings at the moment are still light enough to wake up (if you’re lucky like us not to have to wake until 8am!) to daylight. A sunny morning is a bonus. It is not to be expected, but when the sun does shine it just makes those beautiful colours brighter and more vibrant. We are surrounded by trees and greenery, so for us we see the once green leaves of various the surrounding trees turn gradually from dark green to yellow to rusty, coppery and red browns.
Now is the time that warm jumpers, gloves and thermals start to come out. The heating is needed and we can all enjoy evenings with the blinds firmly shut sitting snugly by a warm fire. It’s a scene that fairytales and the perfect families are made of. I absolutely love it!
However, nothing can be perfect. As I have said we are surrounded by trees and this means that we also have the pleasure of sweeping the billion leaves that fall in to our garden and onto our footpath and drive. Some days I can’t go out of the back door without stepping into a foot of crumpled up, windswept leaves! We, therefore, spend many weekends sweeping, blowing and attempting to gather said leaves. I certainly clear the way out of the back door every day. It seems similar to the painting of the Fourth Bridge as it is never ending!
I tend to go for the easy option of using our garden brush and sweep the leaves before adding some to our compost bin, There isn’t a compost bin big enough to cope with the quantity we need too dispose of. The remainder goes in to our garden waste bin and that of our neighbours as even one bin and a composter is not enough!
Jim tends to opt for the petrol garden vac that we have. I find it quite heavy and cumbersome to use and the vibration of the machine leaves me with tingling hands after using it for any length of time. However, it is really handy - when Jim uses it that is! The fact that has no cord makes it simple to use over a large area.
Despite all of this leaf gathering, sucking, blowing and sweeping the freshness and crispness and changing colours of autumn are still pleasingly familiar and
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Colours of Autumn
Brown, Gold, Green, Copper, Rust, Yellow, Amber, Crimson, Purple
Why do leaves change their colour?
I spring and summer leaves main substance is chlorophyll, which gives them their green colour. Chlorophyll is required for photosynthesis; the process that converts sunlight in to food for plants and trees. Sunlight is required for the synthesis (making) of chlorophyll. As autumn approaches the daylight hours reduce and so the production of chlorophyll reduces. The colder temperatures also slows down the passage of nutrients in to leaves and again affects the production of chlorophyll.
During this process the green colour created by the chlorophyll reduces and other colours previously masked by the chlorophyll green are seen. Colours such as carotenoids that give yellow shades are now more prevalent.
The trees do not lose their leaves as a result of the change in colour, but as a measure to preserve energy and nutrients in the winter. Whilst the leaves are present they loose water, which as the ground freezes the tree can not absorb through the ground, so the tree loses it’s leaves. Another factor is that if the tree were to retain its leaves they would get very heavy with snow and ice in winter and would probably cause the branch to break. Before losing their leaves the tree drains the leaf of stored nutrients to save for spring.
Evergreen trees do not lose their leaves as they are protected with a layer of wax to prevent nutrients being lost.
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