For argument’s sake, lets agree that the season known as “Fall” got its name from the fact that leaves fall to the ground around this time of year, shall we? Not too much of a stretch, is it? Good.
But what about all these non-cooperative trees that refuse to play along? Oaks and beeches are the main culprits, but I’ve spotted some other renegades around town. Here it is, Thanksgiving, for heaven’s sake, and loads and loads of leaves are hanging in there, refusing to budge.
“Why, Gid, tell us why”, I hear a few of you plead.
Here then is the answer. It comes from Michael Snyder, of Northern Woodlands Magazine, who admits that, pretty much no one knows the answer. Guesses range from trees holding on to leaves so they can drop ’em in the Spring to self-fertilize (please), retaining leaves to provide “frost protection” for emerging buds (yeah, right), and finally (get this) “to camouflage emerging buds from marauding deer”.
Pure hokum, obviously. Clearly, Snyder is stumped. But perhaps some of you thoughtful readers can chime in on the subject?
Norway maples can be pretty stubborn. And all the leaves of a ginko hang on for dear life and after the first frost they all fall at once.
Anonymous:
Says you!
I wood, but then I’d have to kill you.
Chris:
Packs two, count ’em, TWO jokes in a single sentence, ladies and gentleman!
could be drought related.
Eines:
When I neglect to water the house plants, the leaves start to fall OFF. You’re suggesting outside plants have the opposite reaction?
http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S41/08/98E35/index.xml?section=topstories
Hi gideon,
Totally off topic for this post, but would be curious to hear your general thoughts on the havemeyer area in old greenwich. Lot going on up there in terms of building that neighborhood up, and seems to be going one street at a time. Do you like the value in that part of town? Good schools and decent lots of land there at first glance. Prelim stages for me, so any general thoughts you have would be a big help.
Thanks!
Anon:
Yeah, I agree about Havemeyer. Originally created as low-cost housing for returning WW II veterans (hence streets named after distinguished military figures), it has been finally carried along with the rest of Greenwich in a rising tide of prosperity. Wish we could say the same for the State of CT! Anyway, as you have observed, builders started to recognize the value up there, starting about 10 years ago, but it’s also couples building for themselves. I think it’s a good bet.
thanks gideon- appreciate it