The Miracle of a New Leaf

Learning about Nature helps us to appreciate life and understand more about ourselves

Hi, I’m Sue and I write about the beauty and ingenuity of Nature, and how we can deepen our connection for our optimum health and wellbeing. Discover more Nature-inspired content on Spiral Leaf, Twitter and my video Nature Channel.

Leaf flush is the term used to describe the flush of new leaves as they are created simultaneously on all the branches of a bare plant or tree. Leaf out is when leaf buds start to open in the early Spring.

This seasonal phenomenum is aptly named as Nature creates an infinite abundance of new leaves from early Spring through Summer. It’s when trees, bushes, plants, hedgerows and verges burst into a symphony of translucent greens, pale reds, papery pinks and pale yellows in early March to late May. It’s a showcase of beauty that brings branches of dormant plants and trees to life at the same time every year.

This flush of new leaves represents the continuation of a journey from seed to sprout, vegitation to budding, flowering to ripening. A beautifully orchestrated synchronicity of life unfolding and blossoming - exactly as expected and exactly as designed to do. So it is with all of Nature's exquisite flora - including the formation of a new leaf.

We are Nature

When we look more closely into the workings of Nature, we start to appreciate the magnificence of our natural world. It gives us the opportunity to appreciate that the miracle of life is happenening all around us (and within us) every moment of the day.

When we take time to consider the seeding and growth of Nature, we realise just how incredible and abundant this life on Earth is. It follows that we too are miraculous and abundant beings in the form and function evidenced by our bodies and the breath-taking qualities expressed through the workings of our mind, spirit and soul.

In our own bodies around 330 billion cells are replaced every single day. This is equivalent to about 1 percent of all our cells. This means that in 80 to 100 days, 30 trillion cells are replenished — the equivalent of a new you!

The miracle of a new leaf

To bring this home I wanted to share with you today the intricacies of the formation of a new leaf. It is a fascinating process which helps to make us realise what is really going on when we see the beauty of Nature around us. It makes it clear why we feel so intrigued and passionate about our natural world.

The more we know, the more likely we are to marvel and feel a sense of awe. The more we appreciate the natural world around us and understand that we are an integral and interconnected part of Nature, the more we are likely to want to save our planet (and ourselves) from being spoiled and take steps to protect this wonderous thing we call life for our own wellbeing and the good health of all.

Apical bud

A new leaf begins life as a tiny root designed to take in all the water and nutrients needed to enable it to thrive and grow.

This tiny aprical bud grows out from the tip of a stem or along a fissure situated on the stem. It contains all the cells needed to form a new leaf. It originates from the stem cell niche of the apical meristem which is also known as the leaf shoot.

Circadian rhythm

Plants are ingenious because they know exactly when to wake up from their Winter dormancy and when to start growing new shoots and leaves in the Spring. A molecule called phytochrome is responsible for this punctual awakening.

At a precise moment when there is just enough daylight for leaves to grow, it triggers growth as if to say: Nights are getting shorter and Summer is on its way - it's time to bloom!

All of Nature's forna grows according to the natural circadian rhythm which means being tuned into Earth's natural light-dark cycle. It means all trees and plants need light to grow and will naturally bend towards the strongest light by elongating the cells of their stems on the side farthest away from the light.

This efficiency of light-oriented growth is known as phototropism.

Chemical reactions

A leaf grows through a combination of cell growth and cell division. Growth increases its size as the white cells divide in a process known as mitosis. This increases the number of cells and accelerates the sprouting stage when the leaf gradually unfolds and spreads itself out to greet the sun.

As soon as sunlight energy reaches the different chlorophyll molecules inside the chloroplasts of the leaf, chemical reactions are triggered and the leaf splits water (H2O) into its component parts.

At this moment, oxygen is released into the air and other chemical reactions combine hydrogen with carbon dioxide drawn from the air to create the life-sustaining sugars and starches needed for growth.

It's the chlorophyll's job to absorb light to activate photosynthesis when the plant uses its stored energy to convert carbon dioxide (absorbed from the air) into oxygen (released into the air) and water into glucose.

Through a series of naturally occurring processes, the leaf is given the gift of life.

Da Vinci's rule

The symmetry and ingenuity of Nature's natural design in terms of efficiency, harmony, beauty and scale never ceases to delight.

It awakens us to the infinite number of similarities between human beings and all living beings, as an expression of Natural Law identified as Da Vinci's Rule.

This is where all the branches of a tree at every stage of its height when put together are equal in thickness to the trunk below. The same analogy applies to rivers and their tributaries and our own human arteries and veins.

This pattern-based analysis - driven by Leonardo’s curiosity and accompanied by his critical analysis and deep thought - is something we can adopt for ourselves. It’s a wonderful way to get closer to Nature when we can see that we are made of the same stuff, beautifully made and intricately interconnected.

It means we too are miraculous gifts of Nature, worth every respect and loving care for ourselves and each other. For this reason, we can take a leaf out of Nature's book and dedicate more time to simply being our true selves to enjoy time spent in our natural environment where we feel most relaxed and most at home.

Take a leaf

The next time you are out and about in Nature, take a close look at a leaf.

Notice how exquisite it is in shape, colour, form and function. Look at the symmetry of its veins and think about how they efficiently transport and transfer light, sugar, water and nutrients through the leaf and down into the plant or tree. Look at the intricate patterns of veins which form and flourish within the tissue of initially identical cells.

This is just one way we can enhance our connection with Nature through each of our senses. Being present in this way helps us to focus and clear our mind of unwanted thoughts, to rest and calm our body and to put things into perspective when we realise that we are an inegral part of something infinitely supreme, ingenius and magical in every way.

By exploring, discovering and understanding things about Nature, we learn more about ourselves. By doing so we give ourselves the space and nourishment we need to blossom and grow.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to seeing you again soon.

Further Reading

Take A Leaf by Sue Cartwright

A written poem with a video accompanied by a beautiful classical piano solo about the beauty of Nature’s abundance found in the formation and shape of a leaf.