Peak Color

One of the best reasons to live in the Upper Midwest is the leaves changing color in the fall. We take it for granted here - friends who have moved away have said the changing of the seasons is one thing that they miss. When we have sunny days, cool nights, and dry weather, we get the brightest colors on the leaves of deciduous trees.

The science of leaf change is one of chemistry and light. Tree leaves appear green because of chlorophyll. It absorbs most colors except green, which is reflected back to our eyes. Chlorophyll is also the chemical that allows plants to create sugars (food) from sunlight and water. It’s pretty much the magic in a plant that makes our lives on Earth possible!

In the fall, the tree stops making chlorophyll, breaks it down into smaller molecules, and stores these for the next growing season. This disappearance of chlorophyll allows the true colors of the leaves to shine through: the reds, oranges, yellows, and browns that we look forward to each autumn.

I’ve read a lot of AMAZING fall books this year for a project at my work. One of the best I discovered was Fall is Not Easy by Marty Kelley. If you’ve ever wondered how a tree feels about growing (and then losing) its leaves, this is a great one to check out!