Friends of All Plants

To not mention Fall while I am sitting here sipping my Pumpkin Spice Latte would be like talking about college without mentioning extreme sleep deprivation. My PSL is interconnected with Fall and with Fall comes my favorite part of the year, the changing color of trees. Every day I walk around the campus entranced by the vibrant colors of the trees changing color, which brings me to the next animal of the week, a tree. Yes, yes, I know, a tree isn't technically an animal, but I am fascinated by all life, not just the kind that breathes oxygen. Sorry. Would you feel better if the blog was named "Friends of All Life?" It just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Here at Friends of All Animals, we do not discriminate whether you have cell walls or not, therefore plants are included. I mean, seriously, how can we not include them, people name their plants! I met wonderful pet plant named Francis yesterday. Its owner was THRILLED because Fransis had a baby. Not going to lie, I was slightly confused when Fransis's owner presented me with this information, but I quickly learned that Aloe plants produce asexually. (S'CUTE) It is possible that I may adopt Fransis's offspring if the owner would be so kind, updates to come! 

#ShoutoutCassie

Back to the beauty of plants and trees, especially during fall. Seriously there is something about the firery orange, red, and yellow tree that cannot be represented with words. Even the most eloquent of diction cannot paint the same picture in my mind that I see when I am staring up at a tree. It is something about the immense size yet intricate detail of each leaf that cannot be replicated. However, this picture on the right taken by my homegirl Cassie does a pretty could job of capturing the exquizitness of a tree during fall. 

Jumping into the leaves is a common activity for Penn Staters as exemplified daily on the campus Snapchat story. I am guilty of jumping in some leaves in my day, but recently I came to a realization. Actually a couple.

#1 There could be literally anything in that pile of leaves. The pile could be hiding a giant block of cement and if  you jump on to a block of cement we all know what would happen. A knife,  disgusting trash, spiders. There could be a nest of MARBLED ORBWEAVERS! Anything. 

Credit

#2 It could be an animals home. I bet a squirrel would love to live in a leaf pile, but humans keep jumping in them and crushing them. A squirrel might just be minding its own business storing some nuts in its humble leaf pile abode and a reckless human can ruin its days work in an instant. Doesn't seem very nice to me. 

Humans jumping in leaves is the equivalent to bacteria jumping in dead skin cells. Seems like a strange phenomenon, but hey Fall is my favorite season! Later this week I am hopefully going to become the proud owner of a baby Aloe plant! YAY! Thanks for reading! Let me know your thoughts on fall and if you have ever had a dangerous leaf pile encounter!