Cotton fields are white as snow, some of them almost as far as the eye can see. Soybean fields provide a vast landscape of browns, buffs, and grays. Leaves on the trees are gradually turning to bright yellows, reds, and oranges; and early-morning fogs add to the splendor of colors.

Most of us just accept the colors of fall and the fact that leaves change colors. We don't even question why.

Leaves get their green color from a pigment called chlorophyll. This pigment, which is necessary for food production, is found in numerous cells throughout the leaf.

Along with the green pigment, leaves also contain yellow or orange carotenoids. Most of the year, these yellowish colors are masked by the greater amount of green coloring. But in the fall, partly because of changes in the period of daylight and changes in temperature, the chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellowish colors become visible.

The red pigment, anthocyanin, appears later in the growing season as a result of a combination of factors. Anthocyanin is produced from high concentration of simple sugars in the leaf cells and warm sunny days followed by cool nights with temperatures between freezing and 45 degrees. Variations in leaf colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.

The most vivid colors appear after a warm, dry summer and early autumn rains that prevent early leaf fall. Long periods of wet weather in late fall produces a rather drab coloration. Some of the most startling color combinations are to be found in the leaves of red and sugar maples, sassafras, sumac, blackgum, sweetgum, scarlet oak, sourwood, and dogwood.

As the fall colors appear, other changes are taking place. At the base of the leafstalk where it is attached to the twig, a special layer of cells develops and gradually severs the tissues that support the leaf. At the same time, Nature heals the break so that after the leaf is finally blown off by the wind or has fallen from its own weight, the place where it grew on the twig is marked by a leaf scar.

Through fallen leaves, Nature has provided for a fertile forest floor. Fallen leaves contain relatively large amounts of valuable elements, particularly calcium and potassium, which were originally a part of the soil. Decomposition of the leaves enriches the top layers of the soil by returning part of the elements borrowed by the tree and at the same time provides for more water-absorbing humus.

North Carolina leads the parade for leaf lookers, and depending upon the season, the species of trees involved, and the relative proportion of the three pigments, just about every imaginable color combination may be seen.

So as the seasons change, we need to make changes right along with Mother Nature. We need to make sure our heating systems are working properly, because there is no doubt that we will need it in a few weeks. If we are heating with firewood, we need to make sure we have an ample supply.

We need to make sure our water pipes are protected from freezing well in advance. It is a terrible experience to have to work outside in subfreezing weather attempting to prevent water pipes from freezing.

We need to prepare our outside landscape plants for the winter. Plenty of mulch around the roots will prevent dehydration and will help prevent the roots from freeze damage.

We need to prepare suitable areas well in advance for our outside pets and farm animals. Even though the cold winter nights may seem miserable to us, most animals do not suffer at all during real cold weather as long as they can find suitable bedding areas and have plenty of clean water to drink.

Make sure all animals have plenty of bedding material, something like straw, in areas that are protected from the harsh winds. Provide windbreaks if necessary. And above all, make sure there is plenty of clean drinking water available in such a way it will not freeze.

We can enjoy the mild temperatures, beautiful colors, and all the special activities that fall provides. But winter is coming, so let's get ready.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 04/19/06