PHOTO ESSAY

What’s Not To Love About Leaves?

In response to Dr. Preeti Singh’s nature prompt, The 🍃 That Steal My ♥️

Leaves throughout the seasons — SUMMER

Leaves, in summer, are mostly seen aesthetically. The way their foliage adds charm to the surroundings, the way their canopy provides shade and shelter from the sultry sun.

Birds, especially the little ones, the songbirds, make their homes in trees. And what do you think protect the birds’ nests from the elements? The leaves.

AUTUMN

Leaves make a grand display in autumn.

Their splendid colours, in my view, is nature’s spectacular show of gratitude.

But what happens when leaves start to fall and carpet the ground with their motley of enchanting colours?

Some people look at fallen leaves, especially when they start losing their fresh autumn colours, as not aesthetically pleasing.

That season-browned leaves, even when they are still clinging on trees, should be let go. Make tidy the ground strewn with leaves; bag the fallen leaves and throw them into bins.

Fallen leaves on the ground at this time of the year start their other important role, both in the wilds and in gardens.

If left on the ground, leaves turn into natural mulch that is able to suppress weeds. When leaves decompose, they improve the soil.

The leaf litter also provides shelter and food to many beneficial organisms which are mostly pollinators.

A number of wildlife species, including wood frogs, chipmunks, toads, shrews, earthworms, millipedes and thousands of insect species, use leaf layer as their primary habitat.

Many of our garden birds, including robins, sparrows, wood thrushes and the common yellowthroats, forage on leaf layer to search of insects for food.

WINTER

In winter, as fallen leaves on the ground from deciduous trees decompose and turn into leaf mold, improving the soil structure and water retention, evergreens present their leaves in striking patterns.

Winter leaves, bathed in frost and snow, seem to revel in the cold.

They seem to take pride in showing that, while the fallen leaves are doing their bit for wildlife, they cheer us with their frosted beauty.

SPRING

And, in spring — my favourite season — leaf buds start to herald fresh beginnings, passionate hopes, and in some cases, miraculous rebirth — a new life.

What’s not to love about leaves?

Recommended readings:

“Dead leaves rattle, still clinging to the oak, until they fall, dying another beautiful death, vibrant yellows, now quiet browns…” One of the lines in Hayden Moore’s literary piece using rich metaphors that is such a delight to read and ponder on.

When you need a good laugh, make sure you read Srini’s piece –

And, check Dr. Preeti’s nature prompt featuring photos of leaves that are visually astonishing.

Much thanks again to @Reciprocal’s Sahil Patel, Yana Bostongirl and of course, to Dr. Preeti Singh for their heartfelt support to contributors like me to this wonderful publication.

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