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The Leaves They Are a Changin'

Well, autumn is officially here. The hot and muggy days of summer have given way to the cool, comfortable, and ever shortening days of fall. For many of us, autumn is a time of preparation for the long and cold winter that is looming just around the corner. But in the midst of our hasty preparations for winter, it is practically impossible not to stop and appreciate Mother Nature's spectacular display of brilliant fall leaf colors.

For a precious few weeks in October and November, the beautiful colors of fall inspire many to get out and just observe nature in all of its beauty. Autumn is one of the best times of year to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens, or Morton Arboretum, or even one of Lake County's many nearby Forest Preserves. The crisp air and vivid fall colors are enough to energize and brighten anyone's day.

When noticing the amazing leaf color this fall, many Lincolnshire residents may indeed be wondering, what causes leaf color to change so drastically?

In the summertime, tree leaves have high concentrations of a green pigment known as chlorophyll. Chlorophyll captures energy, in the form of sunlight, to be used in the vital process of photosynthesis. The sugars produced by photosynthesis keep Forester’s Corner trees healthy and growing throughout their long lives.

Chlorophyll pigments are continually being "used up", and replenished throughout the growing season. The sheer abundance of these, sunlight grabbing, pigment cells is why leaves appear green.

But leaves also have other pigments called carotenoids, and anthrocyanins. Carotenoids, which are yellow and orange, are always present in the leaf, but are far out numbered by the green chlorophyll pigments. Anthrocyanins, on the other hand, are produced late in the
growing season as leaf chemistry slowly begins to change. Anthrocyanins pigments are red and purple.

As the growing season comes to a close, trees stop producing chlorophyll in preparation for shedding their leaves. It is during this time that the red, purple, orange, and yellow pigments are finally allowed to show through.

So get out and enjoy the dynamic colors of autumn before they are gone.

If you have any forestry related questions, or need to obtain a tree removal permit, remember to contact Tony Gliot, the Village Forester, at (847) 883-8600.