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7964_The Colors of Fall in Yardley OCT 2012
These 39 pictures entitled "Colors of Fall in Yardley . . ." were all taken around my home in late October, pre-Hurricane Sandy. Number 7968 is a photo of the tree that came crashing down on two unsuspecting cars parked underneath it at the height of the hurricane.
Fall happens to be my favorite time of year and not just because pumpkin flavors are all the rage. From late September to early November, Mother Nature puts on her most spectacular show. Trees of all types slowly transition from their standard leaves to shades of red, orange, gold, brown, and even purple. Landscapes across the country pop with vibrant colors and serve as a brief reminder just how beautiful nature can be.
It's a great time for hiking and scenic drives and below are all the resources you need to make your trip happen. Whether you want to know just why leaves change their colors or are looking for where to see specific shades, the answers are here.
So Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
The answer lies in one word: chlorophyll. It's the chemical that gives leaves their green color. Chlorophyll is also responsible for photosynthesis - a process where plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar. Confused? Let's back up to the basics.
Trees take water from the ground using their roots. They also take carbon dioxide from the air. But trees need oxygen and glucose to grow big and healthy. In order to do that, they use sunlight to turn the water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. That's photosynthesis. And chlorophyll helps make it happen.
When summer ends and autumn begins, there is less sunlight since the days get shorter. This is an important hint for trees and other plants to prepare themselves for the winter. Since there isn't enough light and water during the winter for photosynthesis, trees go into rest-mode and will feed off food they have stored up over summer. While processes shut down, chlorophyll starts to disappear from the leaves, taking away the green color. As the green fades, the leaves show other colors that have been there all along - yellow and orange. They have been hidden all summer by chlorophyll and during the fall, it is their time to shine!
You're probably wondering about the other signature colors of autumn - red, purple, and brown. Well, in some trees, such as maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. That glucose is turned into a red color from the sunlight and the cool nights of autumn. The brown color of trees, such as oaks, is made from tannin - a waste product left in the leaves.
The brilliance of colors you see every fall is directly related to weather conditions. The brightest colors are seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days and cool evenings. A good supply of rainfall also keeps the leaves on trees longer and helps to enhance the color.
For more information go to this site:
usparks.about.com/od/fallfoliage/a/Fall-Colors.htm
7964_The Colors of Fall in Yardley OCT 2012
These 39 pictures entitled "Colors of Fall in Yardley . . ." were all taken around my home in late October, pre-Hurricane Sandy. Number 7968 is a photo of the tree that came crashing down on two unsuspecting cars parked underneath it at the height of the hurricane.
Fall happens to be my favorite time of year and not just because pumpkin flavors are all the rage. From late September to early November, Mother Nature puts on her most spectacular show. Trees of all types slowly transition from their standard leaves to shades of red, orange, gold, brown, and even purple. Landscapes across the country pop with vibrant colors and serve as a brief reminder just how beautiful nature can be.
It's a great time for hiking and scenic drives and below are all the resources you need to make your trip happen. Whether you want to know just why leaves change their colors or are looking for where to see specific shades, the answers are here.
So Why Do Leaves Change Colors?
The answer lies in one word: chlorophyll. It's the chemical that gives leaves their green color. Chlorophyll is also responsible for photosynthesis - a process where plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar. Confused? Let's back up to the basics.
Trees take water from the ground using their roots. They also take carbon dioxide from the air. But trees need oxygen and glucose to grow big and healthy. In order to do that, they use sunlight to turn the water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. That's photosynthesis. And chlorophyll helps make it happen.
When summer ends and autumn begins, there is less sunlight since the days get shorter. This is an important hint for trees and other plants to prepare themselves for the winter. Since there isn't enough light and water during the winter for photosynthesis, trees go into rest-mode and will feed off food they have stored up over summer. While processes shut down, chlorophyll starts to disappear from the leaves, taking away the green color. As the green fades, the leaves show other colors that have been there all along - yellow and orange. They have been hidden all summer by chlorophyll and during the fall, it is their time to shine!
You're probably wondering about the other signature colors of autumn - red, purple, and brown. Well, in some trees, such as maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. That glucose is turned into a red color from the sunlight and the cool nights of autumn. The brown color of trees, such as oaks, is made from tannin - a waste product left in the leaves.
The brilliance of colors you see every fall is directly related to weather conditions. The brightest colors are seen when late summer is dry, and autumn has bright sunny days and cool evenings. A good supply of rainfall also keeps the leaves on trees longer and helps to enhance the color.
For more information go to this site:
usparks.about.com/od/fallfoliage/a/Fall-Colors.htm