Three types of pigments are involved in leaf color.
- Chlorophyll is responsible for the green we see most of the year. It's necessary for photosynthesis which harnesses sunlight to make the sugars that plants need to grow.
- Anthocyanins result in magnificent reds and are produced in the fall as a response to bright light and excess sugars within leaf cells.
- Carotenoids produce yellow, orange, and brown and are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells all year, but masked by chlorophyll.
During autumn, night length increases, and chlorophyll production stops. The carotenoids and anthocyanins are unmasked and we see a brilliant display of colors.
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Autumn has long been my favorite season. I suppose it goes back to the beautiful colors and fun experiences I had growing up. When I think of Autumn, I think, see, and feel: crisp, clean, cooler air with a sigh of relief from the heat of summer, an array of significant color on the many varieties of leaves still on the trees and bushes, going apple-picking with family and friends, and then baking apple pies and baked apples with cinnamon, jams, and maple, Halloween and the fun of costume and getting as much candy as possible from trick or treating, jumping into piles of leaves that have fallen to the ground and hearing that exquisite 'crunch', and the wonderful scent of the fallen leaves being burned after raked into a big heap.
And pumpkins and hayrides and apple cider, and all the pretty colors of the festive chrysanthemums. And Thanksgiving...
Yes, Autumn is my favorite season!