http://mdc.mo.govWhy do leaves change color?It's one of the most often asked questions about autumn...To answer it, you have to factor in several different elements.One is shorter daylight hours in the fall.Another is cooler temperatures.A third factor is a little more complex.It involves the breakdown of chlorophyll in the leaves.The nice thing about fall colors is you don't have to understand the process to enjoy their beauty.Chlorophyll is what plants use to make food from the sun. It gives the leaves their green color.But there are also some hidden colors in the plants that we don=t see until the chlorophyll starts to break down in the fall. That when the yellow and orange colors come shining through.The red and purple colors are produced by yet another different component. They're actually created as a result of warm days and cool nights... when sugars build up and are trapped in the leaves.The most vibrant colors are revealed when the weather cooperates... when its cool but not freezing...and when you have bright sunny days.Rainfall also plays a role.If the weather is dry prior to the fall season, there's a good chance the colors won't develop well. The leaves will be mostly brown and fall off the trees.If there is ample rain in August and September, there's a good chance of more vibrant colors even if there has been a dry summer.Rainfall during peak colors can also wash some of the color out of the leaves and also knock them to the ground.Predicting color is like predicting the weather, because it depends on it.Missouri has a variety of plants and trees that produce an explosion of colors in the fall... from oaks, maples, and hickories to ash, sumac and dogwoods.They all change colors at slightly different times and some are more vivid than others.In Missouri, fall colors usually peak in mid-October.Some of the first to show their colors are the reds from sumac, dogwoods and virginia creeper. Next to shine through are the yellow hues found in hickories.Maples and ash produce a variety of orange, yellow, and reds andlater on, look for oaks that have more subtle golds, bronze, and burgandy colors. The oaks need a long time to develop their colors... that's why many times in Missouri they are not as colorful because a hard freeze will hit before their peak.Some of the best places to find Missouri's fall colors are along the rivers of the state... especially along bluffs where the trees are exposed more to the sunlight producing more vivid colors.One favorite drive is along the Missouri River on Highway 19 from Jefferson City to Hermann.Another is on Highway 79 from Louisiana to Hannibal along the Mississippi.Also, Poosey Conservation Area near Chillicothe is the site of an annual Fall color tour.The Missouri Department of Conservation offers a website showing some of the best locations as well as fall events.

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