Falling Leaves

The leaves are getting pretty deep in the back yard, falling off of the old red oak tree that shades and dominates our yard.

Did you know that leaves won't fall off of a dead limb? The tree sends out an enzyme that cuts the leaf free. We take it so for granted, but it is another miracle of creation every year. First, the chlorophyll leaves the leaf and runs down the tree into the roots. That exposes the leaf's fall color underneath, giving us the beauty of Autumn. Then, the tree sends out the enzyme to cut the leaf. The leaves form a blanket and provide fertilizer for the tree and ground around it. The tree then goes dormant until spring, when it goes through the cycle again. What a beautiful, incredible design.