things

Why do leaves change their color in the fall?

2008-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

Q: What makes leaves green?
A: Chlorophyll

Q: What is chlorophyll?
A: A molecule that turns water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose when exposed to sunlight.

Q: What does glucose do?
A: It produces energy for the tree, helping it grow. It also turns to starch when not immediately used, storing itself as a reserve food source for the tree.

Q: What makes leaves turn yellow and orange?
A: Carotenoids. Shorter days and colder temperatures stop food production in leaves, which stops chlorophyll from being produced, thereby exposing carotenoids.

Q: What are carotenoids?
A: Pigments in the leaves that are already present, but obscured by chlorophyll in the growing season. Carotenoids help protect chlorophyll from photodamage (sunburn).

Q: What makes leaves turn red and purple?
A: Anthocyanins. When photosynthesis stops in the fall, glucose that hasn't been used gets trapped in the leaf. This left over glucose causes a pigment in the leaves called Anthocyanin to appear.

TREES EAT MAN MADE OBJECTS!

2008-11-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

here's some sweet photos from the web that show how trees won't let anything stand in the way of establishment!

intro

2008-11-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

Until I took a plant identification course at a local community college, I had almost no appreciation of trees. I thought they were boring and simple and took them for granted. 7 years after that fateful semester I became a Certified Arborist and went nerdy for trees. I will never tire of scooping up a branch, cone or leaf from the ground to examine and ponder. I get great joy out of taking photographs of cone comparisons and stomatal bloom. I am hooked and loving it!