[As featured in the October 12th edition of the Carnival of Education]

Cross-posted excerpt:

The University of Illinois Extension Office has created an extensive website dedicated to the changing of summer into autumn.

Jack Frost usually gets credit for the beautiful colors, but, in reality, fall color is controlled by both the plant’s genetic factors and the environment. Carotene and xanthophyll are yellow pigments produced in foliage all year; along with chlorophyll, the green pigment. In autumn when short days and cool temperatures slow down the production of chlorophyll, the remaining chlorophyll breaks down and disappears. Then the yellow pigments that have been masked by chlorophyll show up. These pigments give the ginkgo its clear yellow color. Redbud, larch, hickory, birch and witch hazel turn hues of yellow and gold.

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