Autumn has always been my favorite season — maybe because I was born in October. Thunder, rain, and howling winds have blown this magical season into the land where Footsteps in Eden Reflexology resides. For the last few weeks one lonely tree on our street has been proudly displaying its Fall wardrobe — a colorful reminder these days were coming.
Changes in temperature, amounts of sunlight, hours of daylight and darkness all contribute to the new palate of colors we see. The green is stored, and hidden jewels of colors can show off. The USDA Forest Service says it like this:
A color palette needs pigments, and there are three types that are involved in autumn color.
Chlorophyll, which gives leaves their basic green color. It is necessary for photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables plants to use sunlight to manufacture sugars for their food. Trees in the temperate zones store these sugars for their winter dormant period.
Carotenoids, which produce yellow, orange, and brown colors in such things as corn, carrots, and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.
Anthocyanins, which give color to such familiar things as cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums. They are water soluble and appear in the watery liquid of leaf cells.
Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells throughout the growing season. Most anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars within leaf cells.
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.
My thought for you to ponder is this: As the years march on in your own life, are you storing wisdom and life experience, and allowing your rough edges to be softened by the harsh elements you encounter — attracting others to the colorful story you are becoming?
