Falling Leaves

By: Judi Stuart
Port Discover - Visitor Services Manager

Falling Leaves
In 1982, Dr. Leo Buscalgia published one of my favorite books, THE FALL OF FREDDIE THE LEAF. I’ve read it countless times and always find new revelations for living. In this simply written allegory about the balance between life and death, Dr. Love, as he was sometimes called, touched hearts in a magnificent way.

On the surface, it is a book about the life cycle of a leaf from its early days as a bud to its falling to the ground. It is a splendid tale of the circle of life and its purpose. Freddie and his wise friend Daniel discuss the meaning of life, and thus, explain the life cycle in a simple, loving way.

The book appears to be a children’s book, but the subtitle tells the truth—“A Story of Life for All Ages.” [Below - You can see a couple of beautiful videos that were created of this book.]

Scientists have studied the process of seasonal changes for many years. There are three factors that affect what happens in the fall. The length of night, the weather, and pigments in the leaves work together to create the change. The most unvarying of the factors is the slow lengthening of the night. Other factors including food supply, rainfall, and temperature have greater variation.

All of the factors come together to trigger biochemical processes in the leaf. Three types of pigment, chlorophyll, carotenoids and anthocyanin are responsible for the exact colors each species produces. Even the timing of the color changes varies for different species.

Temperature and moisture are the main influences on the brilliance of the colors that are developed each year. Warm, sunny fall days with cool nights produce the most vibrant autumn colors. A summer drought or a late spring can delay the coloring.

As the veins that carry fluids to the leaves close off, it eventually leads to the separation of the leaves from the tree and they fall. Gradually the leaves decompose and add nutrients to the soil around the tree. They also become food for many soil organisms that are essential for the health of the ecosystem.

Many areas of the country are famous for their breathtaking display of fall color, and the mountains of North Carolina and its Blue Ridge Parkway are among the most visited. If you want to see this year’s predictions about the peak of the color in areas of the state, search www.visitnc.com.

Children enjoy fall activities that involve leaf collecting. Try to gather as many different species as possible. Press the leaves between newspapers and weight them down with books. When they dry, they can be used for making greeting cards or imaginative pictures. Leaf prints using stamp pads and rubbings with a crayon are fun for kids to make. Activities like these encourage kids to appreciate the natural world that surrounds them.
###

Leo Buscaglia's The Fall of Freddie the Leaf (Videos 1 to 4):

When You Grow Up

By: Judi Stuart
Port Discover - Visitor Services Manager

When You Grow Up
When did you know what you wanted to be when you grew up? Maybe you’re like me, and you’re still working on it. Can you remember what you said when people asked you that question when you were a kid?

It is a more difficult thing to decide now than it used to be. When I was growing up, the choices were extremely limited for a woman. I remember thinking that I wanted to be a teacher, a nurse, or a ballerina. Once in a while, I thought about being a lawyer or a journalist. Now, the world is completely open for women. Young girls look at the world as being totally open to them.

I always tell my children that they never know what they are preparing for in life. When they have had experiences that they questioned, I assured them that there would be some part of it that they would take away that would later be useful. It’s been interesting to observe their development as adults from that perspective, and they have learned to understand what I mean.

Along those same lines, I believe that the primary job of parents is to open doors for their children. Exposing them to life experiences including other cultures and religions, being away from home, the arts, and in depth studies of many subjects through camps and other activities are just a few ways to broaden their horizons.

Sometimes children’s play is their real work. Activities and ideas that they are exposed to as children later become the magnets that pull them into adult interests. The more concepts they are exposed to, the bigger their world becomes and the more choices they will have.

Career education was one of the things schools used to focus on beginning in middle schools. When students chose a career to research, they usually picked one that they thought would pay the highest salary. Often when they explored the education requirements, the daily activities, and the hours required, they were surprised at what they found and quickly changed their minds.

One of the objectives of Port Discover’s mission is to provide kids with opportunities through play that will cause them to think about future careers. Role play with costumes and occupational gear is a part of the new “Getting Off the Ground” exhibit sponsored by Piedmont Natural Gas Foundation and the “Kinetic Kids” exhibit sponsored by the Albemarle Hospital Foundation. Children never get tired of pretending, and the more props and equipment they have, the more realistic the activity becomes.

These two entrepreneurial organizations are investing in the future by providing opportunities for children to imagine themselves as pilots, engineers, meteorologists, aviation technicians, designers, inventors, doctors, nurses, therapists, and pharmacists. We are grateful for the opportunity and resources needed to provide these experiences. Who knows what doors will be opened for these children through their explorations and play?
###