Day trip to Prairie Oats to find some fall color was a bit colorless. Seems the late October heat kept the trees thinking it was still summer. The chemistry of going from green to brilliant orange, red, yellow and even a pretty brown all depend on carotenoids.

And to explain that, won’t be me… Appalachian State University Biology professor, Howard Neufeld – the ‘fall guy’ – is the man. Check out this article on how it happens. What Causes Leaves To Change Color?

Meanwhile we went mostly colorless and just lost leaves. So here is my ‘fall color’ from Prairie Oaks this week. Enjoy!