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