Red

J has spent quite a large part of the day at hospital (now returned and resting), so I have got on with a series of jobs that needed doing.

At one stage I attempted to sweep up the many leaves gathering on our front drive, blown across the road from a neighbour’s cherry tree, but it wasn’t a good idea on a windy day. It did however give me the idea of making an image of a few of the redder leaves to pass as today’s blip. There has to be at least one leaf blip this autumn.

The red pigments are I think produced by anthocyanins. I read today that the British autumn, which tends to be dull, wet and mild (today must be typical) reduces leaf colour. Whereas the bright, warm days and cool nights of the north-east USA produce its vivid “fall” colours.