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We popped your question into the Yahoo! Search box and took a stroll through the Fall Foliage category in the Yahoo! Directory. Lo and behold, we got a colorful pile of results for us to rake through. The colors apparent in leaves are the results of three main pigments -- chlorophyll (green), carotenoid (yellow, orange, and brown), and anthocyanins (bright red, purple). Most of the year, leaves appear green due to the chlorophyll used in photosynthesis,
the process during which trees and shrubs use sunlight to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugar. Photosynthesis peaks in the summer when the days are long and leaves can absorb the most sunlight. As autumn rolls around and shorter days lead to less sunlight, the chlorophyll in leaves begin to wane as the trees slow their food production and get ready to hunker down for the winter. Then the carotenoid pigments that are always present slowly become visible and peek through in the form of brilliant hues of yellow and orange. In certain trees, anthocyanins are produced by the glucose and wastes within the leaves, lending them deep red colors. Varying tree species produce a wide variety of spectacular fall
colors. The best displays are probably found on the East Coast, due to the climate and wide variety of deciduous trees. Some of the sure-fire showstoppers include the red maple, sugar maple, and red oak. If you're interested in witnessing nature's fall canvas, here are a few good places to start.
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