Fall foliage in Worcester, MA (Photo by Paul Keleher) Leaf peepers of the world unite! The colors of summer have lost their fight. Gone now is the chlorophyll, once oh-so-green, And in autumn, instead, we see on the scene The anthocyanins, so rich, red, and bright, As well as carotenoids, mimicking light. So hop in a car, on a bus, 'board a cruise, But best do it now -- for there's no time to lose! Just check on the timing, and book your first trip; For the views you see here are only the tip Of the visual feast your eyes will soon sight, As the days grow shorter and lengthen the night. Envision yourself on a road paved in gold, Or strolling a forest too rich to behold, Then make yourself part of the wonders you see By making true art with the leaves of a tree. Next heap it up high, in a beautiful pile, And throw yourself in with a satisfied smile. Suggested Sites... The Foliage Network - get the latest foliage updates for the Northeastern, Southeastern, and Midwestern U.S. Flickr: Fall Foliage - Flickr group featuring the best and brightest of fall colors. Science Made Simple: Autumn Leaf Colors - kid-friendly explanation of the science behind the color show.

Directory categories: Fall Foliage, New England Environment and Nature, New England Transportation and Travel, Tree Identification

Archived under: Autumn, Botany, Environment, Nature, Science, Tourist Attractions, Travel, Trees

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"The old chucks" (photo by Bill Keaggy) You smell something? You might be catching the scent of National Sense of Smell Day, our favorite festival of stenches. For an intense olfactory workout, we recommend a field trip to the county dump or a pig farm. If you're lucky enough to live near a greenhouse, sniff the stinkiest of flora, the putrid "corpse flower," titan arum. Enjoy all sorts of stinkiness right in your own kitchen, too. Pungent cheeses like limburger or epoisses are so malodorous that you may suspect your old sneakers. And remember, smells intensify in warmer environments -- those sardines and oysters will smell even zestier after basking on the windowsill (or in the neighbor's yard). True fume fanatics should grab an aromatic durian -- the fruit with a bouquet so fetid that it is said to be banned from public places in several countries. However you choose to celebrate this weekend, take a nice, deep whiff and appreciate your sense of smell. Suggested Sites... Olfaction - a detailed explanation of how we smell -- er, how the human sense of smell works. Scientists Name World's Whiffiest Cheese - for those who love cheese with an "earthy" or "farmyardy" aroma. How Internet Odors Will Work - HowStuffWorks describes scent-producing devices that connect to the Internet. We know the Internet, though -- we're pretty sure it won't smell good.

Directory categories: Fragrances, Titan Arum, Durian, Cheese, Deodorant

Archived under: Botany, Cheese, Flowers, Fragrances, Holidays, Shoes

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(Photo by Suzi Blakley) Infection is almost immediate. Within hours victims swell, itch, and break out in weeping blisters. Less than an ounce could affect the entire planet. And it might already be in your backyard. It's not the next global epidemic, but urushiol, the allergen of Toxicodendrons poison ivy and poison oak. These vicious plants are common, even in urban areas, and difficult to kill. To make matters worse, they're hard to recognize. They have the tell-tale "leaves of three," but those leaves vary in size, shape, and color, and the plants can grow as vines, shrubs, or ground-cover. And then there's the infamous contact dermatitis and its many treatments and myths. Some think the rash is contagious or can be spread from one body part to another (definitely not true). Others think they can become immune by eating the leaves (in a word: no). Dubious home remedies and herbal treatments abound, but some "cures" are actually worse than the rash itself. The only sure way to spare yourself the pain and itching is to learn to identify and avoid the culprit. Suggested Sites... Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center - no matter what your friend's brother's camp counselor told him, it's not a good idea to use gasoline to treat poison ivy. Or, for that matter, bleach, steel wool, or gunpowder. Study: Global Warming Boosts Poison Ivy - vines grow bigger, faster, and with more urushiol with increased carbon dioxide levels. Yahoo! Answers: Poison Ivy - need advice on the plant or its effects? Contact-Poisonous Plants of the World - a travel guide for contact dermatitis fans.

Directory categories: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac, Prevention and Treatment Products, Botany

Archived under: Botany, Camping, Health, Hiking, Medicine, Outdoors, Poison Ivy

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