In warmer months, leaves capture the sun’s energy and turn it into food through a process called photosynthesis, made possible by a pigment called chlorophyll keeping leaves green in the summer. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight, turning it into the sugars trees need. Yellow and orange pigments, while present, are overpowered by green chlorophyll.
As winter approaches, trees shed their leaves to slow moisture evaporation which is difficult to replace when the ground is frozen and may be damaging when water within the leaves freezes and expands.
To prepare, trees grow a corky layer that prevents water from entering leaves. Without water, the tree stops making chlorophyll, and the old chlorophyll fades away. Leaves then unveil those yellow and orange pigments!
For red leaves, the explanation differs. The corky layer not only stops water from entering leaves, it also prevents sugars from exiting. When the sun shines on the leaves, the sugars react with a chemical to form a red pigment, with that in mind, a leaf that is in complete shade will thereby not turn red.
Capturing the essence of nature’s beautiful transformation is a true Pocono Mountains advantage. Take time to sit back and enjoy this mesmerizing experience today!
