In my neighborhood some of trees have lost their leaves, some are still lush and full, leaves as green as the summer time, and others have obligingly changed to a lovely array of autumnal color. What is it with the trees in the city?

For a long time I have believed that it has something to do with pollution; that the exhaust from all of the cars somehow affects the process of photosynthesis, creating an unnatural preservative that keeps the leaves green until they just fall off one blustery day. I have no idea if there is any scientific truth behind this hypothesis of mine.

Has anyone else noticed how the trees in the city just don't behave like the trees in other places? A few weekends ago I went hiking in the Catskills. From one vantage point, looking out over the Hudson Valley, I saw a magnificent display of fall foliage. So many different brilliant hues. It was the quintessential leaf-peeping experience.

So, this is why we get in our cars to drive to the countryside. To see the leaves. That back home in the city are stubbornly refusing to change color. Because of the cars.

Is it that they are as reticent to accept the coming winter as we humans are? Do they fear the scrape of the plow, that will create mountainish landscapes from formerly civilized curbs and sidewalks? Do they dread the constant movement of snow from one place to the other and back again to accommodate our cars and our baby carriages and our bi-weekly offerings of rubbish and recycling?

What, do you think, that little tree in front of my apartment building is thinking right now? I worry a bit about it; it could be more robust. I've thought of sneaking out at some hour when someone is less likely to see what I'm doing and think I'm some crazy person or a drug dealer burying crack for the squirrels to find to bury a protection charm for it, to keep it safe and healthy during the winter. I like my little tree. At the moment it is stubbornly hanging on to every last green leaf it has.

Posted by Angela-Eloise at 9:39 AM