Why Leaves Change Color

Much cooler weather is coming to the stateline this weekend. Soon, the Stateline area will see the leaves on area trees lose their green shade, and reveal the yellows, reds, and oranges of autumn.
Leaves produce a substance called chlorophyll to produce oxygen and food during the warmer months of the year. Chlorophyll is what gives the leaves a green color. When the cooler weather and shorter daylight hours arrive, leaves stop producing this substance. Then the green color fades away, revealing the other colorful hues that were "hiding" beneath the chlorophyll all along.

Freezing temperatures seem to be an especially strong cue for leaves to change their color. And some areas will be close to the freezing mark by this weekend. This should finally kick the "golden season" into high gear across the Stateline. Hope you enjoy!  --TS