Protection has to do with natural selection(the process in which the creatures and plants with the best genes survive to reproduce therefore creating offspring better suited to the elements.) Theres something about plants with bright leaves prove to be poisonous so bugs want to stay away. Insects land on the leaves and lay their eggs and when the eggs hatch the insects eat the tree it was growing on. So trees make their leaves bright colored to protect themselves from being eaten by insects next spring. This theory was proven by studying trees for years with dull and bright colors and seeing where the bugs layed their eggs. This theory fails to mention the fact that the brightly colored leaves fall off and why they would need to keep the eggs from being layed on the leaves.

The other theory (which I think is a better explanation) says that these bright colors help the tree survive. When the leaves turn a different color other than green they stop making clorophyll. This provides less nutrients for the trees which is why the leaves eventually fall off. But while the leaves are still attached to the tree they need to provide some nutrients. So the two chemicals that are found in the leaves (red and orange have anthocyanin and yellow have something like carotenid) these chemicals help collect nutrients in the dim fall daylight. It was proven these help by comparing trees without the anthocyanin to the trees with anthocyanin and the trees without any couldn't thrive. This theory doesn't mention why some leaves are a duller color than others and why some trees don't have any.

So that was all about the leaves. So next time you're out therelooking at all the beautiful foliage try to remeber this blog and maybe even think up your own theories as to why the leaves change colors. They change colors cuz the life is being sucked out of them! There that's one theory now make up your own.

As long as it doesn't rain I may do both. Rake now and mulch later. I know it's really not that important and certainly not worthy of a blog entry, especially after a weeks absence but honestly, every time I look in the backyard, all I see is leaves and it drives me nuts.

Turning leaves

I hadn't noticed until now that the last 5 days pictures have been of leaves. This was a rushed job (and it shows), but at least it's a picture.

16 October 2008, originally uploaded by Chalkhills Collective.

The pleasure I derive from viewing the changing colors of autumn leaves is evidently not as great as it is for many other people. I can see color changes but it just doesn't seem to carry as much esthetic charge. I've always assumed that because of my color deficient vision I was missing the subtleties. Perhaps it is. Maybe it's just that I prefer the exuberance of spring.

Coursey Pond (west side), Harrington, Delaware

Half an hour after sunrise, misty, humid, mid 60s. Lots of traffic on the road, but no one on the pond.

I love spillways. Could've sat there all morning and listened to the water gush, but I have things to do and places to go...

I found some really great color and I'll be editing a few shots here and there in between my portrait jobs to include on the blog.

Here are 2 from today that I particularly loved.

This shot was taken with the 18-200VR:

This shot was taken with the Tokina 12-24 Wide Angle

The colors of fall are finally here. The welcome change around us is however a warning of the white blanket that will soon envelop us. I took this shot yesterday. There was a light rain in the morning and a mighty wind was raging through Ann Arbor. It was almost like the gods were trying to shake every leaf off the tree and cover Ann Arbor with hues of orange, yellow and red. The result was spectacular. The Burton Tower can be seen in the distance.

LEAF-PEEPING: Autumn Leaves

     “Are you going to peek at the fall leaves?”
     This was the first question most persons asked when they learned my husband Monte and I were traveling to New England in September.
     “No,” was my response. “I can see fall leaves just sitting on my patio at home. Why would I travel so far just to leaf-peep?”
     Actually, we traveled from Newport, Rhode Island to Frenchman Bay, Maine to do research, visit with friends and family, resolve issues in three cemeteries, and, finally, just to “vacate.” We---or rather I, who grew up on Seabrook, Hampton, Wallis Sands, and York beaches---thoroughly enjoyed just sitting on the rocks and reflecting on the water, photographing beach scenes, and dodging or body-surfing waves high-surf waves. Leaf-peeping just wasn’t high on my agenda.
     Traveling into Downeast Maine, and later, driving through the Green Mountains and White Mountains at the end of September as we returned home, we enjoyed being among the earliest leaf-peepers. I took numerous photos of gold and red-leafed trees while driving along the road (the sports setting on my camera allows me to take good photos out the car window as we are moving), each time laughingly saying to my husband that these photos were to appease those persons who asked the fall-leaf question. (see photo at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/2945458299/ )
     It’s now mid-October in Southwestern, Pennsylvania. I just participated in Ligonier Days, an annual weekend of crafts, parades, and other activities. This year the theme was the 250th anniversary of Ligonier Valley, and our writers group published a commemorative booklet in the area’s honor. I sat at a table outside a local bookstore for several hours during the weekend. There was beautiful weather, and the leaves were spectacular, coloring the hills and roadsides in gold, bronze, red and yellows, all accented by the evergreens growing alongside the leafy trees.

(see photos at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/2946321642/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncholland/2946321142/in/photostream/)
     As I took time to practice photographing them with my new camera, I thought about how the presence of chlorophyll camouflaged the brilliant colors, keeping them green all summer. When the chlorophyll no longer is produced, the true colors burst through, revealing their true identity, which is considered far more attractive to many persons, as evidenced by the number of persons who travel miles to leaf-peep at fall leaves. Does anyone ever travel those distances to peep at the summer’s highly productive, but somewhat dull, green leaves?
     My musings continued, and I thought about how many persons camouflage themselves with acceptable behavior. But when their “chlorophyll” disappears, their behavior becomes more colorful. For example, how much attention does the “good” behavior bring, while the worst behavior brings plenty of attention? Yet, when the colorful behavior happens, the person ultimately “falls,” like the leaf that falls off the tree after it shows its true colors.
     As a writer, we know that the “green,” though nice and pleasant, is not where the story is. Our readers require the “color” of conflict. Green just doesn’t cut it. The more color the better---and when the leaves fall, let the wind gusts whip them about, rather than letting them float softly to the ground. It will keep the attention of the readers.
     The season of color will pass, winter is coming fast. But for these few weeks, please, along with me, photograph nature’s leaf pallet if you can, write about it if you will, but please, at the very least, enjoy peeping at it---wherever you are…

ADDITIONAL READING:

QUINTESSENCE

OF FIREFLIES AND LIGHTNING BUGS

BLACK FLIES AND OTHER INSECTS: Then and Now

WATCHING CORN GROW

FERAL BIRDS: THE LATEST COMMUNITY HAZARD

A KUDZU COVERED VEHICLE GRAVEYARD

A DOVE STORY RETOLD: JASMINE AND JEWEL

BEAR CONFRONTATIONS: SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WHAT ARE THOSE NUMBERS IN MY CAMERA VIEWFINDER?

WHAT DO YOU SEE THROUGH YOUR CAMERA LENS?

USING A NEW CAMERA WHILE TRAVELING

Chain link fence.  Leaves on a fence.  Red vines at evening.  Across from the post office.  Let's mail some love to everyone we know.  I should write letters more often, I really should.

Today, I got back my first paper in ph d school and I am very happy to have gotten a B+. If I can maintain that for the next two years, I will be ecstatic.

Old House and Red Tree, originally uploaded by Junior1919.

So this is the first post on my new website. I decided it was time for a change as we passed the one year mark and have over 300 posts. So, here's looking at you, kid.

As I'm sure you've noticed, there is only one picture on this page. This particular theme works around one page per picture and, by doing that, it can change the background color (by magic, I believe) to match the picture. It's pretty cool. You can use the arrow looking thing below these words to go back to the previous post or click the archive button on the upper right area of the post to see a calendar layout of the previous posts. It's pretty cool.

You can subsribe by clicking the little quarter-circles-inside-a-box button on the bottom left of every post. I suggest you do so in order to not miss a single picture!

That's all for now, I think. I hope you like it here.

It’s fall on Otter Creek in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia…

2008 D L Ennis, All rights reserved.

NOTE: Permission for the use of my images is granted for personal websites and blogs (THAT MEANS NO ADS AND NO SELLING OF ANY KIND) but is to include a link back to this site and proper credit given to me, D L Ennis. Link to be used...(Visual Thoughts http://dlennis.wordpress.com/)

NOTE: Commercial use, and the creation of prints, must be purchased! For more information you can contact me here.

Foliage here has been pretty hit or miss but I found some back lit leaves and thought it made a nice frame..

Yesterday I took a different route home so I could enjoy some of the fields.  To truly appreciate them it helps to drive on a road that has rolling hills going through the fields.  The hills allow you to see more of the landscape.

What I saw on my drive was winter wheat just breaking through the soil.  It almost looks like grass, it has the same green color.  A harvested corn field lays bare the dark colored soil with the off white or tan color of the pieces of stalks left behind.  Freshly cut hay is a darker green than the new winter wheat.  And of course the pumpkin fields are orange with the vines turning dull green and brown.

Yes there are trees.  Almost all the farm houses are surrounded by them.  When you top the last hill about a half mile from the town I live in you will see lots of trees.  They are not in town, although we do have quit a few, but the ones I'm talking about are along the South Platte River.  The colors range from still summer green, to gold, yellow, red and brown.

Yes I really love the fall color of farm fields.

Here is a snapshot of what we made today.

This is our version of a pumpkin patch.  She had a lot of fun painting until she licked her hand with orange paint on it.  I immediately rushed her to the skin and scrubbed her off so that I could call the doctor to make sure she wouldn't be poisoned.  They called me back and had me call poison control.  Scary.  The poison control operator assured me she would be fine.  It might come out in her stool or she might get sick to her tummy.  Well, she was fine!  After I got off the phone and gathered myself, we painted the stems with the green.  She did a good job.  I like watching her paint and can't wait until she doesn't stick her hand in her mouth.

Below are some trees out our deck window.  Very pretty!   

Aren't they beautiful!!!  The tree in our backyard is just starting to turn.  Our daughter loves running through the leaves that blow over from our neighbors yards!

When I get time, I plan to make three more skirts.  I am going to use this fabric and the ribbon I posted the other day.  I can't wait to buy more fabric.  My birthday is coming up, so maybe I'll get some cute fabric for my birthday.  I could only wish for a sewing machine.

Her smile’s been pulled crooked
over hungry bones too dry to bend,
and from those pointy blades, breaking
like wings from her back,
I can see she needs an angel.
Someone to teach her about flying
(and other graceful exits.)

Her eyes are empty spoons, laid clean
on a smooth white table.
She says, I can hear God
when I don’t eat, and laughs a bite
into her apple.
But I love bread – Jesus
I miss breaking bread.
I could put away a loaf in each leg
right here at the table.
She looks past me, out the window.
Afterwards,
I could always run…

I’ve seen her get caught in the dangle,
and I wonder, what words
would keep her from leaving?
What moon-smooth voice could sing her
into a quieter night?
I’ve watched her through the fall,
as the trees complete their shedding,
reach again and again for the bread
(that troubled communion, so sweet
on the tongue.)

I look on, from across the table
and say nothing,
as she, like a thief, steals more
and more body to wrap
around her bones,
Where are my bony wings? she cries, stealing.
Where are the branches that were my arms?

I want to tell her,
There are many ways of preparing…
But she is gone, running
down the hill towards some open gate.

I’ve seen you with her, dancing
in the red and orange leaves,
that are beautiful now,
only because they are dying.
Your lovely bones, in unison
with all things flying and falling
in the bright and simple day.
Can she hear you singing
as she drops the dry leaves at her feet?
(like a tarot spreading on the grass:
veins up for yes, veins down for no)

May she believe that when she buries
the bread around the tree,
that the circle of prayer
will not be wasted?

Or is there even room
in your angelic arms, those mighty wings,
for the round body
of a girl, breaking….

Waiting room serenade, originally uploaded by raoulpop.

Another bokeh leaf shot that's great as a desktop background.

It is Fall!, originally uploaded by Julie Danielle. ]]>