I was planting acorns recently, and noticed how the falling leaves from nearby trees formed a soft protective layer over the acorns. Many animals and plants prepare themselves for cold winter months. They are vulnerable to predation during this time by birds, squirrels, rabbits and other animals. A layer of fallen leaves helps to protect them from predation and from falling temperatures.
This is a good time of year to pick up the prettiest leaves and either tape them into your Leafy Log or draw a picture of them in your leafy log. Either way, be sure to make a note where you found them. Do you know what kind of tree they belong to? I found these bright maple leaves outside my house. Then I painted them. The back side didn’t have much red. Notice how the veins on the back side are thicker. Why do you think the leaves have thicker veins on the part that hangs away from the sun? Falling leaves create a dense mulch on the ground. This helps protect the tree roots. It also helps preserve the homes of many little insects that overwinter in “leaf houses” of various kinds. Leaves can be used to mulch garden patches or add humus to the area around trees. Don’t haul them away. They are a treasure of natural fertilizer and tiny insect homes. After a few warm spring days little bees will emerge, and so will numerous other insects to start the summer pollinating season once again.
A few years ago I was planting crocuses in the fall. Like daffodils and tulips, crocuses are best planted in the fall before the ground freezes. As I put my spade into the dirt, I hit something hard. It stated me to discover that my shovel had hit a large toad on the back. The toad was absolutely still. It was almost as if he/she were dead. The fact that I had hit it quite hard did not seem to awaken it at all. I carefully buried the toad again, and covered him with dirt. I hope he survived the assault to hop away in the spring.
Why didn’t this toad move? Why was he so still and silent? When I did a little research, I discovered that toads and frogs go into a kind of dormancy by burrowing below the freeze line. Their metabolism slows so that they do not move or eat during the winter period. It is certainly curious that these amphibians can survive a harsh winter under the ground. In the
spring they will resume activities such as eating and mating. You have probably already noticed that the insects have hidden themselves for the winter. Other cold blooded animals such as frogs and snakes have hidden away in a safe place. Most birds have flown to warm southern climates, where they can find insects and other food. Only a few birds stay in the north where there is snow. What do you think they eat?
Warm-blooded animals such as people, deer, rabbits and squirrels hang around by storing food in advance or going to the grocery store. What shall we look at as we walk in the winter? Perhaps we will find animal tracks. Do you feed the birds in the winter? Maybe we will do research and learn more about our wildlife. You can make suggestions by going to our Facebook group called Leafy Logs and Nature Jottings. So put on your warm clothes and keep walking
