I think we can all agree that one of the best things about autumn is the changing of the leaves. The greens of spring and summer were replaced by brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds. But what exactly causes the change? Well, science.
It all comes down to chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll, which gives leaves their nice green color, is continuously produced and used through the growing season. Then, much like my metabolism, production slows as the nights get longer and cooler. Chlorophyll taking a backseat allows the other chemicals found in leaves to finally have their moment to shine; their moment may be brief, but it is beautiful.
Carotenoids, the chemicals that give daffodils, bananas, and buttercups their sunny yellows and carrots and sweet potatoes their oranges, and anthocyanin, which colors everything from cherries to blueberries, are both found in leaves. As the chlorophyll slows, these two become more prominent.
What impacts the colors?
The amount of water in the soil plays a part, but the key to great fall foliage is a combination of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp nights, which explains why the North Eastern United States is a fall foliage destination.
But don’t sleep on the south. The good news is, Arkansas has plenty of fall foliage spots. Mid to late October is the best time of year to start your fall foliage journey, beginning with the Ozarks. The Ozark Mountains cover much of northern Arkansas, and they do not disappoint.
Because of the warmer climate, the southern part of the state has trees changing colors well into November, giving Arkansas a relatively long fall foliage season.
It isn’t just water, weather, and chemistry that affect a tree’s coloring but also genetics. Different species turn different colors and turn at different times, allowing for a patchwork of greens, yellows, oranges, reds, and browns.
Identifying the different trees is part of the fun! But, if you’re like me, you have no idea what you’re looking at; so here’s a quick color guide.
A Color Guide
Oak – Red, brown, russet
Hickory – Golden bronze
Aspen – Golden Yellow
Dogwood – Purplish red
Beech – Light tan
Red maple – Red (Phew. What a relief. How embarrassing would it be if it were a different color?)
Sugar maple – Orangey red
So, whether you run head first into fall, pumpkin spice latte in hand, while wearing a sweater that is way too heavy for the actual temperature, but you’ve just been dying to wear it, so here you are (Hi. It’s me.) or you dread the change in the season, take a trip to see the foliage. Or just step outside and admire that brilliant yellow tree in your neighbor’s yard. You have no idea what it is, but you do know that you love it.