Why leaves change colors in the Fall

 As the month of September is upon us, we say saying goodbye to the warm summer days and welcome in the fall season. It’s always amazing to see the beauty and vibrancy of the fall colors. The mixture of purple, red, orange and yellow is the result of a chemical process that takes place inside the tree as the season changes.

During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. This extraordinary chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch.

Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange pigments, carotene and xanthophyll pigments which, for example, give the orange color to a carrot. Most of the year, these other colors are hidden by great amounts of green coloring.

In the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.

So, there you have it….the next time you see the leaves changing to their magnificent colors…you’ll know why!

 




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