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to begin. The leaves then turn to their

natural colors of orange and yellow.
It is the chlorophyll they receive from

sunlight that makes them green.

As the chlorophyll is depleted, the

tree begins to produce anthocyanins
that give the leaves the color red. Some

trees produce anthocyanins faster than

others. Depending on how fast antho-

cyanins are produced regulates how
fast the leaf will turn red. Some stay

orange or yellow and fall to the ground

before they become red. Every tree is
in its own life cycle giving us the vari-

ety of colors we see in autumn.

Look upon leaves this season with

wonder Toastmasters. Take time as they
will soon fall to the ground. But faith-

fully they appear year after year. At

the end of the tree’s leaf life their natu-
ral state is spectacular and blesses us

all. When they fall to the ground, pick

them up, grind them up, and mulch
them into the soil. This makes the trees

and other plants happy and prepares

them for the next season as they nour-

ish the ground and the plants where
they are finally placed to rest. A perfect

picture of “the circle of life.”

VOICES! | Fall 2023 9