Holly leaf spikes ~

Over the years, I've loved looking at and taking pictures of holly bushes and trees. Since my last name is Holly, I love to see those things and celebrate them and use them in pictures and postcards and other things, wallpaper on my computer.





I don't do it all the time, but when I do, especially during Christmas season, I really enjoy it. One of the things that I read about holly trees and the leaves is that normally holly leaves are smooth around the edges.





I know that most of the pictures that I've seen show spiky leaves and I've always associated my gruff side with those spikes, but holly trees, when you look at them as they get taller, have smooth leaves.





The article went on to explain that when a holly tree or bush is being nibbled on by critters all the time, it reacts in a defensive way by putting spikes on the leaves. It's almost as if the plant senses what's going on and reacts to its environment, which ought to give vegans pause because that means plants are conscious of what's happening and react to defend themselves.





As I thought about that article, I realized I'm a lot like that too. When I'm in an environment where I'm not being nibbled on or attacked all the time, I tend to be smooth and easy to get along with and not as volatile as people think I am.





But when I start getting attacked or put down or ignored and left out, I become defensive and the spikes start showing up. I tend to be a little bit faster than a holly tree or a holly bush, but it's still there and it's still what I do.





It was an interesting article. You can check one out at https://earthlymission.com/holly-trees-ilex-aquifolium-leaves-nibbled-by-deer-makes-lower-ones-spiky-regrow/



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