Colors coming on

While out walking the little dog today I couldn’t help but notice the leaves are changing. I love the visual magic that does a now you see it, now you don’t transformation on the trees. Especially when they slip into their autumn finery overnight.  It’s a gift to the eye.
Would you believe only the basic mechanics of this wonder are known to science? There’s a lot to this process. 

We know a variety of factors figure in to the leaf life of trees, namely environmental influences like temperature, rainfall, and variables of soil nutrients, etc. One major factor in the summer/fall changeover has to do with the steady increase of night. In the northern hemisphere, our days grow shorter and nights grow longer and colder this time of year. Less sunlight inspires certain chemical processes to get involved. All through the growing season, a tree makes chlorophyll for photosynthesis and this chemical makes leaves appear green. In the long cold nights of autumn, the chlorophyll production slows then eventually stops altogether for winter. Once the chlorophyll is no longer a factor, the other chemicals present in the leaves all along can finally be seen. These are the carotenoids (yellows and oranges).

To get those vibrant red colors we love this time of year, the tree needs a perfect blend of circumstances. The most brilliant colors are tied to this favorable mix of a warm wet spring, a moderate summer, and cool and crisp autumn nights followed by warm and sunny days. 

During the fall, leaf veins close and food production begins to shut down for the winter. Deciduous trees need to pump their sap to the roots where freezing winter temperatures can’t harm their delicate vascular system.  Warm sunny days inspire the leaves to produce sugars, but with closing veins there’s no way to send it all to the roots. The anthocyanin pigments come into play when lots of sugars are present in the leaves. This chemical makes the vibrant reds, crimsons, purples, and browns that take your breath away.

The seasons change from south to north and from east to west, and that means the east coast of the United States gets the colors first. My husband is speaking in Washington DC in October and we’re driving there to take it all in.
I hope the colors of Appalachia wait for me.  They did last time.  😀

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For 100 days, I’ll post something from my chosen topic: Clichés.
There are 33 entries to come.

Here’s a cliché for today:
As beautiful as the day is long

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Today is Author Cara Marsi’s blog day.
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/

Romance Books ‘4’ Us ~ Watch for our October contest!
http://www.romancebooks4us.com

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My recent projects~

Tasteful Murders

Bake, Love, Write: 105 Authors Share Dessert Recipes and Advice on Love and Writing
In paperback and ebook. The e-version of our cookbook is sold everywhere for 99⊄. See My Other Projects page above for links to various formats.

I’m also participating in Fall Into Romance — a month-long event hosted by The Romance Reviews. Hundreds of authors and industry people are participating and that means hundreds of prizes. Find my bit on my satellite blog:
http://calliopeswritingtablet.blogspot.com/

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<– This is not a lag. It’s a statement. The internet was created to be a free system with access to knowledge and level opportunity for all. Right now several large telecommunications corporations want to make you pay them for the privilege you’ve had for free since the internet began. Learn how you can help stop the pending internet takeover by these heavy-hitting, well-funded Washington lobbyists. The FCC is taking comments now and wants to know what YOU think.
Learn what’s at stake and how you can give your opinion to the FCC.
http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality-what-you-need-know-now

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Love Waits in Unexpected Places – Scorching Samplings of Unusual Love Stories

Find my novels wherever books are sold.
Sample my love stories for free!

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