photos by Jared Boyd

People travel all over the counrty in search of fall. But how can you time it just right so youre not too late or too early? Some might think its pure luck, while others are certain that if you pay close atention to weather conditions you can easily predict the how and when. As for the rest of us, well, its just nice to see it when ever it arrives. Despite this, theres no argument that there is a definite science to why he leveas do what they do. Remember that stuff called chlorophyll from grade school that makes leafy things green, and carotenoids that make carrots orange? These, among others, are the naturally occuring pigments in plants that give leaves their color. Typically, during summer months, trees have a much higher amount of chlorophyll, thus keeping leaves green.

However, come fall and cooler temps, the green coloring begins to break down, making the yellows, oranges and reds more visible. At the same that the leaves are changing colors, a layer of cells develops where the leaf attaches to the twig, severing the leaf from the tree. The leaves fall to the forest floor and serve as fertilizer, mainly by providing calcium and potassium. After a drought summer, one can expect to find more red pigment in the leaves and less of other colors. The amount of sun versus shade will, of course, affect the colors, too. So keep in mind that while rain in fall will produce drab conditions, if its been a dry summer and warm days lead to cool nights, the trees will still do their thing, producing a vivid showcase of color.