Autumn has arrived. With the changing of the seasons comes a treasure that remains the same in the Pocono Mountains-fall foliage time and it is spectacular! Visitors from near and far weighing the decision to head to the mountains and gaze upon nature’s magnificent handy work have a window through the late September and mid-October months to take advantage of this opportunity. Perhaps a bit of scientific fact behind the transition will aid in swaying minds toward capturing these amazing sights.
In summer, leaves capture the sun’s energy and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis, made possible by a pigment called chlorophyll, which keeps leaves green in summer. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, turning it into the sugars trees need. Yellow and orange pigments are present, but they are overpowered by green chlorophyll. In winter, trees shed their leaves to slow the evaporation of water which is difficult to replace when the ground is frozen; also, trees may be damaged when water within the leaves freezes and expands.
To prepare for winter, trees grow a corky layer which prevents water from entering leaves. Without water, the tree stops making chlorophyll, and the old chlorophyll fades away. Leaves then show their yellow and orange pigments, which were always there! For red leaves, the explanation differs. The corky layer not only stops water from entering the leaves, it also prevents sugars from exiting the leaves. When the sun shines on the leaves, the sugars react with a chemical in the leaf to form a red pigment. A leaf that is in complete shade will not turn red.
Appreciate all that the Pocono Mountains has to offer. From festivals and shopping to hiking and biking, there’s a wealth of resources at your disposal with an equally vast spectrum of brilliant color lending the ideal backdrop.
