Autumn

The title of a recent newspaper article caught my eye,

"Fall colors to temper gray skies"

That's what we need here in the PNW!

Because I wondered why some years the colors are

more brilliant than others,

I did some research.

I learned that we have the best autumn colors when there's been

a warm, wet spring,

a summer that's not too hot or dry, and

a fall with plenty of warm sunny days and cool nights. =)

I also learned why there are fall colors;

during summer the trees are working hard,

so due to photosynthesis the leaves are green.

But the trees take a break in the autumn,

and as they begin their long winter's rest,

the leaves change from green to yellow, bright orange, or red!

So in summary,

we play in the summer and the trees work,

then we go to work in the fall and

the trees take a break, giving us all this beauty! =)

Here's hoping for even more fall COLOR to temper our Seattle gray skies!