As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, New  Englanders across  the region are treated to a beautiful autumn, replete with stunning leaves of gold, auburn, and sienna. But even life-long residents might not know the fascinating reasons behind such a stunning yearly display. Check out these interesting fall facts, courtesy of the USDA Forest Service:

Three types of pigment comprise the autumn palette for deciduous trees:

(1) Chlorophyll gives leaves  the green color we see throughout the spring and summer.  It is a critical component in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into food.

(2) Carotenoids give organic compounds yellow, orange, and brown colors,  and can be seen at work in carrots and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.

(3) Anthocyanins give cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums their reddish hues.

• Why do leaves change color? During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors. 
• Why do the leaves change at the same time every year? Three factors influence autumn leaf color-leaf pigments, length of night, and weather, but not quite in the way we think. The timings of color change and leaf fall are primarily regulated by the calendar, that is, the increasing length of night. None of the other environmental influences-temperature, rainfall, food supply, and so on-are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn.
   
• Why do the leaves fall after they change colors? In early autumn, in response to the shortening days and declining intensity of sunlight, leaves begin the processes leading up to their fall. The veins that carry fluids into and out of the leaf gradually close off as a layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf. These clogged veins trap sugars in the leaf and promote production of anthocyanins, the red pigment mentioned above. Once this separation layer is complete and the connecting tissues are sealed off, the leaf is ready to fall. Fallen leaves blanket the forest floor and help retain moisture as they compost.