Ah, Fall. It’s the time of everything pumpkin related. It’s the time when you start getting clothes out of storage for those cooler days and nights. It’s the time you start looking for your favorite blankets and scented candles. But most importantly, it’s the time when the leaves start changing colors. The change of the leaves creates quite a stunning color show, one that that has flocks of people making their way to the mountains for a view. But you don’t have to go all the way there for the color show! The show has already peaked in the mountains, but it’s just getting started here in Raleigh! But like any show you watch on tv, there is always stuff going on behind the scenes. We’re here to give you the all the details of what goes on behind the scenes!
So why do the leaves change colors in the Fall? Well, what you probably didn’t know is that these orange and yellow hues you’ve been seeing on trees and plants have been there the whole time. They’ve just been covered up by something called chlorophyll, which is a green pigment in a plant. During the warmer months, chlorophyll demands the center stage. Chlorophyll helps plants absorb energy from the sun. As the sun starts going down earlier and it starts getting cooler out, chlorophyll doesn’t get as much attention. Therefore, the orange and yellow hues take over and demand their spotlight. But what about the red hues you’re seeing out there? They actually are created by pigments within leaves that change when exposed to bright, sunny days and cooler nights–two things that we experience in the Fall. Also, if we get an early frost, that makes the leaves more vibrant when they start to change. When the leaves turn brown, that means the show is over until chlorophyll starts taking over again in the Spring. So grab a pumpkin spice latte and enjoy the gorgeous foliage show while you can!
By the way, did you know that Fall is the ideal time for new plantings? Are you ready to start a new project? We can help you! Give us a call today 919-844-3441 or fill out the contact form below. We look forward to hearing from you!
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