While we’re experiencing an unexpected heat wave throughout Michigan for the first week of fall 2017, the trees and shrubs know fall is here.
It was a treat to hike the trails at Phoenix Lake, part of Edward Hines Park; every bend in the trail had another impressive display of color.
Leaves are already changing to golden yellow on the Honey Locust, Shagbark Hickory, and Sassafras trees.
Plants and saplings in the understory and forest floor are also displaying gorgeous red and orange foilage.
What Causes Leaves to Change Color in Fall?
Cool weather isn’t the main cause for leaves changing color in fall. It’s the amount of daylight hours vs. nighttime hours.
As days gets shorter and nights gets longer, plants are triggered to stop their food-making process, the process that produces the green pigment (chlorophyll) in leaves.
During the growing season, chlorophyll covers up the other pigments in the leaves.
But when chlorophyll is no longer produced, the other pigments—brilliant reds, oranges, golds, and yellows—are revealed.
And that’s when we glory in the gorgeous colorful fall foilage.
