Every summer in mid-August, I find myself out hiking in the scorching heat, only to stumble upon a tree that has started to change its colors early. Was there a memo I missed? How does this tree know it’s time?
Or is it a weaker tree? I’ve heard some people say that trees that change their colors early are actually in the beginning stages of death. Maybe that’s so. But I know several trees that change too soon every year, and they look healthy as can be when spring comes around.
It could be that the summer heat kicks off the tree’s hibernation. We had a huge hot streak there for a bit—with no rain—so perhaps the tree is only doing what it needs to, to survive, shutting down its system to atone for the dearth of water. A mere “opting out” before something bad happens, feeling a change is warranted, deep within its roots. Hallmarks of another beautiful design.
To be fair, this can’t be said for every changing tree, as some have excessive browning around their leaves and look like they are not long for this world. But for the most part, the trees I see changing their colors are healthy-looking. They are simply protecting themselves and checking out early. Like introverts Irish-exiting a party at 9PM. They know it’s time to depart if they want to stay strong, so they start turning inward to prepare themselves for the next shindig—in this case, spring. They know what’s good for them.
And what can another tree do if it wants their buddy to stick around for one more day of fun in the sun? One more shaking of the branches in the autumn wind? They can’t grab the fleeing partygoer. They can’t put their branches around the escapee and pull them back to the bar. No, they have to sit silently and accept that each tree has its own way—a way that works for them. And that’s ok because they’ll see ’em again come spring, as healthy as ever.
