(Untitled)

[mybonnykate]

Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Comments

[weimpups]

hold on little leaf!!!!

[birthingway]

le sigh.

[sidheag]

Colin was explaining to me on the way home today that the leaves are yellow and red because the tree has withdrawn the valuable chlorophyll into its branches and trunk, which means that the waste products built up over the year become visible, before the leaf is discarded. I have to confess that (a) I didn't know that and (b) I haven't attempted to verify that he's correct, but it sounded as though he was quoting David Attenborough, so he probably is. I liked the idea.

[mybonnykate]

The symbolism of that has always appealed to me -- that in death, in hardship, in the harsh winter cold, the leaf's fresh easy cloak of green drops away, and its true color flames into sight.

[sidheag]

Yes - but what was especially appealing to me was the idea that the tree actually keeps the green stuff, ready to use again next year. If it's true!

[seawaif2]

It IS true, and furthermore, for maples, their natural color is gold. They have some mechanism that turns them redder (to orange) and redder still (to deep red) as the season progresses. It is postulated that this change of color may deter bark-and-leaf-boring insects from harming the tree. Cool, huh?

[jespere]

Whoa. I totally want this on my wall!

[kyliebeth]

Get that picture framed. It's beautiful!