Leaf Summer Behind!
Did you know that we live in a part of the country that has one of the best displays of fall colors? Tourists from all over the world flock to the eastern United States and Canada to view, photograph and enjoy nature’s artistic side. Because of our mild climate and high annual rainfall, all forests east of the Mississippi burst into dramatic, brilliant color to signal the coming of cold weather. In fall, light levels drop because the sun becomes less intense as it moves away from the earth. Additionally, day-lengths shorten because the earth’s axis tilts. With less solar energy to warm it, the northern hemisphere grows colder. Outdoor temperatures in fall and winter would freeze and kill many plant parts like leaves, so deciduous plants have evolved to shed their leaves. Chlorophyll, the green chemical plants use to turn sunlight into food, moves out of the leaves before they fall. Other plant chemicals are then left behind and provide the vibrant colors we see in fall.
Viewer Tip: You can create a showy fall display if you know what to plant. For reds, plant Sumac, Sassafras or Sourwood. Witch hazel and American Beech provide orange color, while Tulip Poplar turns yellow. For purple, plant a Dogwood or Sweet Gum.
For more tips on plants, visit the Georgia Wildlife Federation Web Site (www.gwf.org) and check out its Native Plant Encyclopedia.
(Source: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/Spfo/pubs/misc/leaves/leaves.htm)
