The Beauty of Autumn
by Elizabeth Winter
Title
The Beauty of Autumn
Artist
Elizabeth Winter
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
According to the U.S. National Arboretum, here's a look at how weather conditions at each stage of the leaf growing season work to the benefit or detriment of foliage come September, October, and November:
During spring, a wet growing season is ideal. Drought conditions during the spring (the beginning of the leaf growing season) can cause the sealing barrier between leaf stem and tree branch to form earlier than normal. This in turn, can lead to an early "shutdown" of leaves; they'll drop before they've had a chance to develop fall coloration.
From summer into early autumn, sunny days and cool nights are desirable. While adequate moisture is good during the early growing season, it works to mute colors in the early fall. Cool temperatures and abundant sunshine cause chlorophyll to be destroyed more rapidly (recall that chlorophyll breaks down with exposure to light), thus allowing yellows and oranges to be revealed sooner, and also promoting the formation of more anthocyanins. While cool is best, too cold is detrimental. Freezing temperatures and frosts can kill thin and fragile leaves.
During autumn, calm days prolong viewing opportunities. Once the autumn season arrives, leaves need time for the buildup of chlorophyll to entirely fade and their dormant pigments to fully take over. Gusty winds and hard rains can cause leaves to fall before their full color potential is reached.
So remember, the conditions that make for spectacular autumn color displays are a moist growing season followed by a dry autumn having warm, sunny days and cool (but not freezing) nights!
Uploaded
October 11th, 2015
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Comments (14)
Nancy Kane Chapman
Thank you for this lovely scene and for explaining why the fall colors are taking their time here in Missouri. F/L+