Nature's Rainbow on Earth : Fall Colors
In Western Hemisphere, just as the summer ends, and the only solace before the arrival of winter is the beauty of autumn. Fall colors are seen in deciduous trees and shrubs before they shed their leaves to conserve water in bitter winters. I sitting in Seattle, enjoy watching the lush greens transition to yellow-red everyday. While taking morning stroll I see the nature's drama unfolding day after day from middle of September. When fall colors are at the peak, it’s like a rainbow on the ground.
The question is why do the leaves present us this colorful visual treat before falling off.
Before I reveal the mystery of these colors, think about how the bacteria in Grand Prismatic Springs create rainbow in the Yellow Stone National Park area.
Yes, the answer in this case is also pigments. The pigments responsible for fall colors actually exist in the leaves throughout the year; we just don’t see them! The green color of the leaves is due to a pigment called chlorophyll, which helps them produce energy in the presence of sunlight. When the days are long with plenty of sunlight, this pigment is abundant in the leaves, masking all other colored pigments. As the days shorten after summer, there are physical changes in the plant that cut-off food supply to the leaves. So, chlorophyll production becomes lesser over time, unmasking the other pigments like carotenoids, which are yellow and orange in color.
Let us also understand that all leaves do not turn vivid colors in the fall. Only a few of our many species of deciduous trees. Maple, aspen, oak, and gum—produce stellar performances for annual autumn spectacular in North America.
Several factors contribute to fall color (temperature, precipitation, soil moisture), but the main agent is light, or actually the lack of it. As the autumn days grow shorter, the reduced light triggers chemical changes in deciduous plants causing a corky wall to form between the twig and the leaf stalk.This corky wall, or “abscission layer,” eventually causes the leaf to drop off in the breeze. As the corky cells multiply, they seal off the vessels that supply the leaf with nutrients and water and also block the exit vessels, trapping simple sugars in the leaves. The combination of reduced light, lack of nutrients, and no water add up to the death of the pigment chlorophyll, the “green” in leaves.
Once the green is gone, two other pigments show their bright faces. These pigments, carotene (yellow) and anthocyanin (red), exist in the leaf all summer but are masked by the chlorophyll. (The browns in autumn leaves are the result of tannin, a chemical that exists in many leaves, especially oaks.)
Sugar trapped in autumn leaves by the abscission layer is largely responsible for the vivid color. Some additional anthocyanins are also manufactured by sunlight acting on the trapped sugar. This is why the foliage is so sparkling after several bright fall days and more pastel during rainy spells.
Best Places in North America To Watch Fall Colors.
Yes, the answer in this case is also pigments. The pigments responsible for fall colors actually exist in the leaves throughout the year; we just don’t see them! The green color of the leaves is due to a pigment called chlorophyll, which helps them produce energy in the presence of sunlight. When the days are long with plenty of sunlight, this pigment is abundant in the leaves, masking all other colored pigments. As the days shorten after summer, there are physical changes in the plant that cut-off food supply to the leaves. So, chlorophyll production becomes lesser over time, unmasking the other pigments like carotenoids, which are yellow and orange in color.
Let us also understand that all leaves do not turn vivid colors in the fall. Only a few of our many species of deciduous trees. Maple, aspen, oak, and gum—produce stellar performances for annual autumn spectacular in North America.
Several factors contribute to fall color (temperature, precipitation, soil moisture), but the main agent is light, or actually the lack of it. As the autumn days grow shorter, the reduced light triggers chemical changes in deciduous plants causing a corky wall to form between the twig and the leaf stalk.This corky wall, or “abscission layer,” eventually causes the leaf to drop off in the breeze. As the corky cells multiply, they seal off the vessels that supply the leaf with nutrients and water and also block the exit vessels, trapping simple sugars in the leaves. The combination of reduced light, lack of nutrients, and no water add up to the death of the pigment chlorophyll, the “green” in leaves.
Once the green is gone, two other pigments show their bright faces. These pigments, carotene (yellow) and anthocyanin (red), exist in the leaf all summer but are masked by the chlorophyll. (The browns in autumn leaves are the result of tannin, a chemical that exists in many leaves, especially oaks.)
Sugar trapped in autumn leaves by the abscission layer is largely responsible for the vivid color. Some additional anthocyanins are also manufactured by sunlight acting on the trapped sugar. This is why the foliage is so sparkling after several bright fall days and more pastel during rainy spells.
Best Places in North America To Watch Fall Colors.
The Adirondack Mountains are famed for their fall colors, Lake Placid area glare up during autumn . Red and silver maples, birch, aspen, oaks, and beech trees stretch out along the Olympic Trail scenic byway (which runs through Lake Placid), providing a striking show of color for its 170 miles. To enjoy the colorful drama take the Fall Foliage Train Tour on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Prime viewing time tends to be in early to mid-October.
Oakland also take top honors as the best town in America for leaf-peeping, thanks primarily to the blazing colors found just nine miles north of town at Swallow Falls State Park. As the Youghiogheny River flows through rock gorges, the oldest stands of eastern hemlock and white pine—more than 360 years old—blanket the area in gold, orange, red, and that eternal green. For five days in early October, residents turn out for the annual Autumn Glory Festival , including two parades, concerts, and band competitions. Oakland also embraces the Halloween spirit, hosting a hayride along the lakefront that passes scenes of zombies and ghosts.
When the leaves start showing their colors in Stillwater—on the western banks of the St. Croix River dividing Minnesota and Wisconsin—visitors converge on the town’s many Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns.
As the air gets crisp in Stowe, the sugar maples come alive in intense shades of gold, orange, and scarlet blanketing the surrounding Green and Worcester mountain ranges. In general, the best time to capture these brilliant hues is the end of September through mid-October.
Before the snow bunnies take over Okemo Mountain and its ski resort, the 3,344-foot peak is one of the loveliest places in the valley for fall colors—with a 360-degree view that includes the Green Mountains to the west and the Okemo Valley region to the east. Just drive to the top, park, and hike the short distance to the fire tower. Other prime viewing spots are along the nearby Scenic Route 100 Byway: the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and Coolidge State Park, both affording panoramic, mountaintop views.
Like so many New England towns, Portsmouth is awash in early American history. At Strawbery Banke Museum—a 10-acre outdoor museum—you can take in the fall color as you roam the waterfront district and its restored homes built in the mid-1600s. By car, watch the foliage as you drive down the 18-mile scenic Coastal Byway. Or leave the driving to the captain on a 2.5-hour Inland River Cruise highlighting foliage and local lore.
Snowmass Village and nearby Aspen—which bears the name of Colorado’s most ubiquitous tree—are visited only briefly by autumn. But catch it while you can because it’s one of the best times to explore this area, with seasonably mild days and not-too-cold nights. The preferred local ways to experience fall color are biking and hiking, whether it’s along the exceptionally beautiful Crater Lake Trail near Maroon Bells or the moderate Smuggler Loop at Hunter Creek.
When Chicago’s upper crust started putting up mansions on Lake Geneva in the late 19th century, they enlisted some of the top landscape architects to design grounds and plant trees that would showcase autumn colors for as long as possible, from early September through November. Three-mile-long Snake Road on the north end of the lake is one of the best drives in the fall, or enjoy the Fall Foliage On A Cruise . Better yet, splurge on a view from air in Hot Air Balloon.
Autumn can start making an appearance as soon as early September in these parts, and leaf-peepers trek to Glenwood Springs in droves to watch summer green change to aspen gold at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers. Bike or hike along the 44-mile Rio Grande Trail that leads up to Aspen. If you have to pick a drive, choose the one over Independence Pass, where a short hike will bring you to a summit overlooking 18 mountains higher than 14,000 feet.
Best Places in Europe To Watch Fall Colors
Serbia is still unknown to mass tourism but it offers to its visitors a pristine nature and many wonderful places, including the Tara National Park. Immerse yourself in a forest of pine and spruce trees, explore the peaks, discover breathtaking canyon and admire the fall colors that surround the rivers.
Slovenia.In every season the famous Lake Bled is worth a visit, but in the fall is truly magical. The days are still warm and walking around the lake is a wonderful experience. This Slovenian jewel is surrounded by trees and their many shades, a truly amazing sight.
Tyrol Austria. Ride on bikes and explore the forests of Tyrol which shine in their new colors, from golden yellow to deep red. Here you will find a cycling network of over 3,800 kilometers to discover the forests and villages; Also Fall is the time to traditional feasts and festivals! Do not miss the Großer Ahornboden, a large forest of maples at 1200 meters above sea level.
Switzerland is also a perfect destination for the foliage; visit the typical alpine valley of Blenio in the canton of Ticino, which offers the opportunity to walk through many paths pastures, vineyards and forests of the Swiss corner kissed from the sun.
Loire, France.This renowned French zone, from October to November gives a beautiful show: the foliage of the vineyards make the landscapes that surround the famous castles even more evocative.
Even in Germany there is a perfect place for Fall lovers: it is the Deutsche Weinstraße, which starts from Bocknheim and arrives to the French border. Follow it means plunging into landscapes and red and yellow vineyards, where you can find stunning villages.
Autumn in Scotland is a spectacle that enchants. Particularly when the wild nature of the Highlands forests ignites in red, orange and yellow every visitor gasps, before this sublime beauty.
One of the most picturesque areas of Ireland, is the lands of Connemara in October month tinged with new colors with breathtaking landscapes. A walk to pick blackberries will be an unforgettable experience!
Oakland also take top honors as the best town in America for leaf-peeping, thanks primarily to the blazing colors found just nine miles north of town at Swallow Falls State Park. As the Youghiogheny River flows through rock gorges, the oldest stands of eastern hemlock and white pine—more than 360 years old—blanket the area in gold, orange, red, and that eternal green. For five days in early October, residents turn out for the annual Autumn Glory Festival , including two parades, concerts, and band competitions. Oakland also embraces the Halloween spirit, hosting a hayride along the lakefront that passes scenes of zombies and ghosts.
When the leaves start showing their colors in Stillwater—on the western banks of the St. Croix River dividing Minnesota and Wisconsin—visitors converge on the town’s many Victorian bed-and-breakfast inns.
As the air gets crisp in Stowe, the sugar maples come alive in intense shades of gold, orange, and scarlet blanketing the surrounding Green and Worcester mountain ranges. In general, the best time to capture these brilliant hues is the end of September through mid-October.
Before the snow bunnies take over Okemo Mountain and its ski resort, the 3,344-foot peak is one of the loveliest places in the valley for fall colors—with a 360-degree view that includes the Green Mountains to the west and the Okemo Valley region to the east. Just drive to the top, park, and hike the short distance to the fire tower. Other prime viewing spots are along the nearby Scenic Route 100 Byway: the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and Coolidge State Park, both affording panoramic, mountaintop views.
Like so many New England towns, Portsmouth is awash in early American history. At Strawbery Banke Museum—a 10-acre outdoor museum—you can take in the fall color as you roam the waterfront district and its restored homes built in the mid-1600s. By car, watch the foliage as you drive down the 18-mile scenic Coastal Byway. Or leave the driving to the captain on a 2.5-hour Inland River Cruise highlighting foliage and local lore.
Snowmass Village and nearby Aspen—which bears the name of Colorado’s most ubiquitous tree—are visited only briefly by autumn. But catch it while you can because it’s one of the best times to explore this area, with seasonably mild days and not-too-cold nights. The preferred local ways to experience fall color are biking and hiking, whether it’s along the exceptionally beautiful Crater Lake Trail near Maroon Bells or the moderate Smuggler Loop at Hunter Creek.
When Chicago’s upper crust started putting up mansions on Lake Geneva in the late 19th century, they enlisted some of the top landscape architects to design grounds and plant trees that would showcase autumn colors for as long as possible, from early September through November. Three-mile-long Snake Road on the north end of the lake is one of the best drives in the fall, or enjoy the Fall Foliage On A Cruise . Better yet, splurge on a view from air in Hot Air Balloon.
Autumn can start making an appearance as soon as early September in these parts, and leaf-peepers trek to Glenwood Springs in droves to watch summer green change to aspen gold at the confluence of the Colorado and Roaring Fork rivers. Bike or hike along the 44-mile Rio Grande Trail that leads up to Aspen. If you have to pick a drive, choose the one over Independence Pass, where a short hike will bring you to a summit overlooking 18 mountains higher than 14,000 feet.
Best Places in Europe To Watch Fall Colors
Serbia is still unknown to mass tourism but it offers to its visitors a pristine nature and many wonderful places, including the Tara National Park. Immerse yourself in a forest of pine and spruce trees, explore the peaks, discover breathtaking canyon and admire the fall colors that surround the rivers.
Slovenia.In every season the famous Lake Bled is worth a visit, but in the fall is truly magical. The days are still warm and walking around the lake is a wonderful experience. This Slovenian jewel is surrounded by trees and their many shades, a truly amazing sight.
Tyrol Austria. Ride on bikes and explore the forests of Tyrol which shine in their new colors, from golden yellow to deep red. Here you will find a cycling network of over 3,800 kilometers to discover the forests and villages; Also Fall is the time to traditional feasts and festivals! Do not miss the Großer Ahornboden, a large forest of maples at 1200 meters above sea level.
Switzerland is also a perfect destination for the foliage; visit the typical alpine valley of Blenio in the canton of Ticino, which offers the opportunity to walk through many paths pastures, vineyards and forests of the Swiss corner kissed from the sun.
Loire, France.This renowned French zone, from October to November gives a beautiful show: the foliage of the vineyards make the landscapes that surround the famous castles even more evocative.
Even in Germany there is a perfect place for Fall lovers: it is the Deutsche Weinstraße, which starts from Bocknheim and arrives to the French border. Follow it means plunging into landscapes and red and yellow vineyards, where you can find stunning villages.
Autumn in Scotland is a spectacle that enchants. Particularly when the wild nature of the Highlands forests ignites in red, orange and yellow every visitor gasps, before this sublime beauty.
One of the most picturesque areas of Ireland, is the lands of Connemara in October month tinged with new colors with breathtaking landscapes. A walk to pick blackberries will be an unforgettable experience!
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