Sunday, September 30, 2018

Leaves of Change: Fall Foliage

The changing colours of leaves from the greens of summer to the bright colours of reds, yellows, and oranges, means that fall is coming.

Plants convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar through the process of photosynthesis.  Chlorophyll is the pigment that does this, and that is what makes leaves green.  When the days get shorter, as it does going into fall, this pigment breaks down and the underlying colours reveal themselves.  The different shades of red, purple, orange, and yellow from the anthocyanin and carotenoid pigments, make up the beautiful fall foliage.

The leaves changes colour around late September to October, which makes this the best time to go for a road trip to check out this splendor.  The Internet is bursting with articles and sites that report fall foliage, so check them out first before heading out the door.

To get you started, here are a few sites you can check out: