Saturday, September 22, 2012

Happy Fall Ya'll


Happy 1st Day of Autumn
Autumn is a season filled with change. 
Days become shorter and, although it is often
 warm and sunny during the daytime, 
it can be cold at night.


Why is the season called "Fall". 
 The leaves on many trees die and fall to the ground. 
About 500 years ago, when Middle English was spoken,
expressions like "fall of the leaf" and "fall of the year"
were quite common, and the season
name "Fall" comes from them.

Derby enjoys the first day of Fall sunning on the deck.
The pool will be closed for the season next week.
We haven't been for a swim once this year!

Leaf Facts
Leaves require sunlight, water, chlorophyll
and carbon dioxide to make food for themselves.


As winter approaches, leaves make a coating for themselves 
which blocks their water source; in the absence of water, 
the leaves no longer produce chlorophyll 
(chlorophyll is what makes leaves green).


When the leaves turn colors in the fall, they actually
are returning to their normal colors. During the summer
months, the chlorophyll present in the leaves causes
the leaves to turn green, blocking the leaves' actual colors.


Along with chlorophyll, leaves contain 2 other chemicals
 that cause coloring. 
The first is called xanthophyll, which is yellow in color. 
The other is carotene, which is orange in color.


Red and purple leaves are actually caused
 by the presence of sugars from sap that 
is trapped inside of the leaves.


Once the leaves have turned brown, they are 
dead and no longer receive any nutrients.

Hope you enjoyed the fun facts on leaves
as well as the westies in action.
...
Below are several of the photo's Wilson & I took
last year while on vacation in Asheville, NC.





Have a great weekend
and
 Happy Fall Ya'll

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