Beauty Pageant

Ahh yes. Leaves. They are a very delicate natural condition aren’t they?

Did you know that leaves didn’t always change their color?

When I was very young and the world was new, the trees all had the same green color of leaves all the year long.

Each tree had different shapes and sizes of leaves, but the colors always stayed green.

One day a great argument arose as to which species of tree were the most beautiful. The Great Oak said it was the most beautiful because it’s leaves were shaped differently than the Elm and the Alders. Then the Birch spoke up and said it had the most spectacular trunks! Then the Redwoods and Sequoias spoke up saying they were the most beautiful because they were taller and stronger than everyone else.

The arguments got so loud that even the birds couldn’t be heard over their bickering.

So to put an end to all the arguments, Mother Nature called a meeting and told everyone who bore leaves that at the end of summer, during the Autumnal Equinox, she would hold a beauty pageant for all leaf bearing beauties just before the Winter Solstice when everyone takes a long winter nap.

Everyone was encouraged to color their leaves in bright cheerful colors or colors they thought would look good against their trunks.

The winner with the best colored leaves would be announced in spring during Beltane, and would be crowned king or queen for the year.

Well this was such a great idea that all the arguments stopped and everyone concentrated on putting on their best colors!

So that’s why the leaves change every autumn and the way it’s always been from the time I was very young and the world was new.