Nature Notebook

True or false? It’s getting chilly now so it must be time for the leaves to fall. False! Another common misconception about nature. Michigan trees are programmed to begin winter preparations as the amount of sunlight dwindles; temperature has no influence on the timetable.

The preparations are most easily observed in our deciduous trees, the ones that lose their leaves each year. What the trees are preparing for is a drought… when groundwater will be unavailable for the roots to absorb because it is frozen. The trees drop leaves which waste the precious water by letting it escape with oxygen during photosynthesis.

The dwindling amount of sunlight is also responsible for the color change in leaves. Chlorophyll, the green part of leaves, needs sunlight to be produced. Less light means less chlorophyll. Less chlorophyll means the other leaf colors, which have been there all along, are visible.

Have you named Sarett Nature Center as a beneficiary in your estate plan? The Sarett Legacy Society is being formed to recognize the generosity of those who have made a planned gift to help sustain Sarett into the future. For our inaugural gathering on Sunday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m., Executive Director Nate Fuller invites the community to enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and drinks while he shares a sneak-peek presentation into Sarett’s plans for growth and a short walk. Even if you can’t make this event, we would love to hear from you if you want to be acknowledged as a member of the Sarett Legacy Society and be invited to future events. Please call (269) 927-4832 to register.