Fall is a Magical Time

by Molly Robertson

Fall is a truly enchanting time in the northeast, especially in Connecticut. Our state’s stunning forests transform into a mesmerizing palette of orange, red, and yellow. This visual spectacle is not just a random occurrence, but a result of a unique set of conditions. A warm, moist growing season, followed by a dry fall with warm sunny days and cool nights, has set the stage for a particularly spectacular autumn. The calm weather we've been enjoying in Darien is a key factor in keeping the leaves on the trees longer, adding to the beauty of the season.

Connecticut has two kinds of trees: deciduous with broad leaves that change color and drop in autumn and conifer which retain their spiky leaves or “needles” all winter long. Although they look very different, the flat leaves of a deciduous tree and the needles of the conifer have the same job…to feed the tree! Trees make food by converting the sun’s energy into sugars which nourish the tree. In the winter months, in order to conserve energy, deciduous trees stop making food and drop their leaves. The orange, red, and yellows you see are carotenoids, pigments that were always in the leaf but are only revealed when the green of the chlorophyll fades. Trees then enter a period of dormancy, which protects them from damage in winter. In the spring, longer daylight and warmer temperatures will trigger the growth of new leaves and the cycle will start again. I love the variety and predictability of Connecticut’s seasons and look forward to the beauty of winter, as we leave this spectacular fall.