Autumn means falling temperatures so trees lose chlorophyll turning leaves red and brown (losing them entirely apart from evergreen trees). Beginning around 22 September, the equinox means days and nights of equal length. Days get shorter and wildlife stores up food, with creatures preparing for hibernation. The Met Office uses the Gregorian calendar, which uses four seasons of 3 months each (so autumn begins on 1 September and ends on 30 November each year).
why do autumn leaves turn red & brown?
Leaves are abundant in England, because we have four seasons, so obviously they all fall off and blow around in autumn months. Leaves are simply parts of plants that use the sun to make food using a green chemical (chlorophyll) to trap energy from the sun using photosynthesis. In simple words, they kind of work like solar panels. The leaves make the plant’s own food and the stems hold leaves upright to take in sunlight, and the roots hold plants in the ground, absorbing water and minerals. Then in autumn and winter when there is little sunlight, leaves either ‘go to sleep’ or die (hence they change colour as the chlorophyll breaks down). Deciduous trees actually lose their leaves in winter. Leaves often turn brown due to tannin (the same dye in tea).
Gather fallen leaves in a jute sack, to make leaf mould. If planting trees, learn how to make gardens safe for pets (know trees to avoid near horses (including yew & oak). For indoor trees, avoid facing foliage to gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
In New England, trees display beautiful foliage in autumn, from treacle gold to burned orange and bright reds. But to be fair, we could have the same here (we have similar seasons). But only a petition by 38 Degrees stopped the government selling off our remaining forests to private industry, something it later admitted was a grave error of judgement.
I hope I can be the autumn leaf, who looked at the sky and lived. And when it was time to leave, gracefully it knew life was a gift. Dodinsky
a nature poem for every autumn evening
A Nature Poem for Every Autumn Evening is a companion to the anthologies for spring and winter poems. This anthology is as warming as a roaring log fire, and as sweet as pumpkin spice. With one poem for every evening during autumn, this is the perfect literary companion, as the days begin to get shorter. Whether you keep it by your bedside for evening reading (or in your bag for when you come across the perfect cosy coffee shop), this collection is bound to make you feel ready for big scarves, and crunchy leaves. The poems include classics from:
- Katherine Mansfield
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge
- Percy Shelley
- William Blake
- William Morris
You won’t be sad that summer’s over, once you discover this book. You’ll be celebrating that autumn has begun!
a warming vegan pumpkin soup recipe
This creamy pumpkin soup (Ela Vegan) is ideal for autumn nights, ready in 30 minutes. The pumpkin and other vegetable are cooked in coconut milk and veggie stock, along with spices. Small sugar pumpkins give best flavour (or sub with mashed sweet potato).
Pumpkins are safe for most people to eat. Keep these recipes away from pets due to unsafe ingredients like nutmeg. Read more on keeping people & pets safe in the kitchen.
an autumnal sweet potato pie smoothie
Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie (Short Girl, Tall Order) is a nice change from the all-too-common berry smoothie recipes. This blends oat milk with vegan yoghurt and frozen sweet potato (or add ice to pureed sweet potato) and sweetens with maple syrup. You can make a nice simple smoothie by blending pureed sweet potato flesh with nut butter, plant milk, ginger/cinnamon & grated carrots, sweetened with dates.
If you like making homemade smoothies, Russell Hobbs blender (around £50) should last years and lets you top-up ingredients as you blend (it’s easy to clean too).