Autumn Foliage
Autumn Foliage

Every autumn we notice the leaves color change throughout the season. We see yellows, oranges, and dark reds coloring our world. But, did you ever think about how this happens and why it only happens in the fall?
Although many of you may think leaves mainly change their color because of the weather, it’s actually not. It’s second important after the biology of trees and leaves. There are many species of trees, but only two types, evergreen and deciduous. Evergreen trees keep their leaves or needles all year round, like a pine tree. Deciduous are the ones that shed their leaves. Leaves are responsible for making food and nutrients for the trees. Deciduous trees make enough nutrients to last them the entire winter. They store the nutrients in the trunk and roots of the tree. Leaves also allow trees to release excess moisture. The process through which leaves produce food is known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis breaks down carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic materials such as carbohydrates, but in order for it to take place, energy is needed from sunlight.
Plants use chlorophyll and carotenoids, both chemical pigments, to absorb light. Light has color known as spectrum. Spectrum consists of the following colors, ROY G. BIV, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and red. Leaves generally appear green, because the chlorophyll doesn’t effectively absorb green light. Anthocyanins produce blue, red, and violet color leaves. If the plant cell fluid is acidic, the coloration will be red. Whereas, if the fluid is basic, then the color will be blue.
The best foliage occurs when it’s cool outside, but