Autumn comes with a rare charm. It slows life down just enough for us to notice. The air feels softer, and there's something comforting about hearing leaves crunch under your feet. It's the season of ...

Falling leaves in autumn are part of a tree's natural cycle of entering dormancy for the winter. Leaving fallen leaves in your yard provides crucial habitat for overwintering insects and amphibians.

This is the time of year when Nicole Hughes gets constantly distracted by the fall foliage as she drives around North Carolina. "I'm always looking," says Hughes, a biologist at High Point University.

A pile of leaves can house over 100 species, including moths, beetles, salamanders, firefly larvae, and other beneficial insects that are essential for a healthy landscape. / Telegraph archives With ...