Photography: Autumn Falls

This was the first week that we had truly frigid temperatures on the East Coast (sorry Midwesterners, but we were still living in the 50s as of last week!)  It hasn't snowed yet, but the temps have dipped below freezing and there's a bite to the wind now.  After seeing all of the snow hitting the rest of the country, I suppose it's only a matter of time before it's our turn.

Still, despite the relatively late start to winter here, it's been a pretty wet, mild autumn (see previous post regarding our leaking roof).  As a result, the window for viewing fall foliage was pretty short---there was literally only one week where the leaves were ablaze in color.  Both the wetness and the mild temperatures worked against a colorful display.  Cold temperatures are required to stop the production of chlorophyll in the leaves, which is the chemical which makes the leaves appear green (chlorophyll appears green since it has evolved to maximize absorption of red and blue light).  Dry weather decreases the concentration of sugar in the leaves, which accelerates the formation of anthocyanins, which are bright red (think of bright red maple leaves).  Some leaves will also have carotene, which colors the leaves yellow, and leaves with both will appear bright orange.

One of the things that I missed the most when I lived in California was the lack of seasons, particularly autumn, so this year was particularly sad.  Still, we were able to head out one weekend to catch a fleeting glimpse of fall's colors.