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Fall leaves might evoke warm memories of cider pressing and pumpkin carving. Or they might remind you of a chore you had growing up, or still haven’t managed to escape. Leaves on the ground might symbolize the impending gray we live through in the Pacific Northwest. No matter how you feel, with certainty, leaves fall, and that should happen starting right about now.

The colors of Capitol Hill’s street trees in fall definitely have curb appeal, but I would argue the bigger, more compelling story happens after they hit the ground. We all know inherently that leaves decay. It’s why letting them form a slippery, mucky mess on the sidewalk isn’t great. We rake them up because eventually they turn from red to brown to mush. But what if I told you that decaying leaves contribute to a food web far more diverse than they do while they are green and on a tree?

Indeed, a green leaf might be important food for a native butterfly’s larvae that goes on to pollinate a wildflower, or be eaten by a bird. A fallen leaf is munched by a host of invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria. Fallen leaves make a home for wintering insects, and in turn, become a place for birds to look for important winter foods. The decayed material builds soil and fertilizes plants wherever they fall. A fallen leaf is the base of a pyramid of biological diversity. Continue reading →