Nature smart

This trail at Ney Park had a mix of trees in different stages. Photo by Brenda Erdahl

By Stan Tekiela

This autumn has been dry and warm so it’s not a great combo for viewing autumn colors. I am sure with more moisture and cooler nighttime temperatures the display would be so much more than what we have now. So why do these leaves change color and put on such an eye-popping show?

First of all, leaves are green because of a green pigment known as chlorophyll that is responsible for the absorption of sunlight to provide energy for photosynthesis. When the chlorophyll is healthy and happy it dominates any other pigment found in the leaf and we see green leaves. But chlorophyll doesn’t just give leaves their color; they are vital in the life of the tree. Chlorophyll cells capture the sun’s energy and combines it with water that is taken up by the tree roots and carbon dioxide which it takes from the air, to produce the trees food—simple sugars. The byproduct is oxygen and of course we breathe oxygen. So we are the direct beneficiaries of what the trees do naturally.

To read more of Nature Smart subscribe today.