Autumn Leaves

SILENT TESTIMONY

By their very presence, the natural elements give a powerful testimony about the magnificent Creator.

Oh maple tree, maple tree Who made thee?

With your crimson décor that radiates

When the golden sunlight gleams

On your shimmering foliage,

Illuminating moments of inspiration,

Painting luminous tales in hearts,

Tangibly making a silent testimony

.................................

Oh maple tree who made thee with

This wondrous torso of serenity

Providing a sanctuary for wanderers

Drifting under blackened skies,

While panting nocturnals chant their plainsong

Pulsating in syncopated rhythm

Oblivious of your silent testimony.

An excerpt from a Poem by Monica Sappleton

(copyright 9/15/2009) All rights reserved. No part of this poem may be reproduced or copied without written permission of the publisher.

A Spectacular Time Of Year

AUTUMN in Washington DC is a very special time of year for me. It is a time when I see blue skies, sunny days, and cool nights gradually paint the wooded hills a hundred hues of yellow, orange, and red. And my eyes become dazzled by the dramatic display of the crimson of the red maple, the scarlet of the oak, the deep red of the sassafras, and the plum color of the ash. And to top it all, the evergreen pines and cedars provide a sober backdrop for the vivid reds and yellows of their deciduous cousins—trees that shed their leaves.

The Fall Foliage Of Washington DC

I took a shot of this gorgeous maple tree sitting on the border of Maryland and Washington DC. It is so delightful, and during the fall, the foliage of trees like this one, among others, convert DC into a place of astonishing beauty.

The Navigational System Of The Monarch Butterfly

I’m so intrigued with the Monarch butterflies and their instinctive navigational system that I couldn’t help capturing this shot of these two as I walked through the Brookside Gardens. I am still trying to fathom ‘how they do they find their way across large land areas’. Even though they have never been to Mexico before, how do they find their way there from North America to the same trees where their great-grandparents roosted the previous year.Do they have an instinctive GPS?

The Fascinating Orchid

Whether orchids grow in their natural habitat or they are produced with the support of humans, they occur in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and species. Botanists have discovered over 25,000 species growing in the wild and 100,000 artificial hybrids. Some of them are so petite that they are best seen under a magnifying glass, whereas others can be exhibited satisfactorily on a windowsill like this gorgeous specie showcased above; from my sister’s flower-shop.

Children: The Far Reaching Effects of Early Nurturing

http://gomestic.com/family/children-the-far-reaching-effects-of-early-nurturing/

Scientists believe that a baby’s brain grows rapidly during the first few years of their lives. While it is growing, it is also mapping out a network of neurons to support thinking and learning. This way it establishes its own potential capacity for processing information. But the use of this capacity is not an automatic one. Neuroscientists believe that it may be that the nerve cells within this network connection / the potential capacity get fired up when they are given adequate amount and proper type of stimulation. This has led early childhood educators to the conclusion that infants need cognitive stimulation. It helps to fire up the neurons and promote a healthy development of the brain circuitry. Read more in the link above....

Do Kids Who Study Music Really Do Better in School And in Life?

Do Kids Who Study Music Really Do Better In School And In Life?

Music study yields amazing results. It empowers the brain by providing it with a self-contained, varied intellectual diet.
It provides a good mental exercise that enables the brain to form those vital neurological pathways that save the neurons from being trimmed off and die because of the lack of use. Read more here.