Colour show of October (must go on).

20 comments

Millions tons of leaves are shed from trees this month, but before it happens, you can watch a beautiful colour show. For this show are responsible three pigments – chlorophyll (of course), carotene and anthocyanins.

One sort of pigments, that occur in autumn leaves and fruits are the anthocyanins. Anthocyanins absorb blue, blue-green, and green light. Therefore, the light reflected by leaves appears red. Red is the colour of extroverts, machos, colour of energy and action. In darkening winter world it is the colour which takes me back :)

Another pigment found in the leaves in autumn is carotene. When chlorophyll disappears from a leaf, the remaining carotene causes the leaf to appear yellow.
Yellow colour in symbolic meaning means clarity for decision-making, sharper memory and concentration skills…

The range and intensity of autumn colors is influenced by the weather. Low temperatures destroy chlorophyll and support the formation of anthocyanins. Bright sunshine also destroys chlorophyll and enhances anthocyanin production. Dry weather increases the amount of anthocyanin, too. So the brightest autumn colors are produced when dry, sunny days are followed by cool, dry nights.

Fascinating. I love the smell of a wet soil and of decomposing leaves…

What chevalier´s footprints are these?

Still warm, still warm – as you can see from green leaves caused by yet a Lot of chlorophyll :))

The fashion colour of this season is purple…

So far, it is not as desperate season, as we often talk about it. And do not forget – flowers still bloom :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrWxzsgUklc&feature=related

13 Oct, 2012
10 likes

Comments

Valadel

Exellent blog Katerina !

13 Oct, 2012

Katarina

That was quick, Valadel :)) Much quicker then my writing, lol.

13 Oct, 2012

Valadel

I'm not on very often but just happened to pick you up as I came on, and once again well done it is fabulous .I wish I had your knowledge and way with words.

13 Oct, 2012

Stickitoffee

great blog katarina! i didnt know all that ~ its fascinating, thank you.
im just wondering if the reason yellow has never been my favourite colour is because im not good at reason or clarity of thought?!!!

13 Oct, 2012

Katarina

Valadel, this is so-called "googled knowledge", lol.

13 Oct, 2012

Katarina

I think so, Sticki, lol.

13 Oct, 2012

Katarina

Of course not, Sticki! Maybe you are not jealous It is also one of the meanings of the yellow colour.

13 Oct, 2012

Valadel

Ha ha,
Good all the same !

13 Oct, 2012

Stickitoffee

certainly interesting! no i dont think i am feeling jealous! i like red and green better!

13 Oct, 2012

Katarina

Me too. But yellow and orange are fashionable this season :))

13 Oct, 2012

Stickitoffee

oh dear! i will have to be unfashionable [again!!]

13 Oct, 2012

Dwyllis

Interesting blog, Katarina. Enjoyed it & loved looking through the photos.

13 Oct, 2012

Dianebulley

So all this talk about a heavy crop of red berries for the birds meaning we are going to have a hard winter is just a lot of old wives' tales ?
A lot of our leaves fell off yesterday in the winds.
Must get on with the digging before the ground gets too wet.
Then its on to indoor jobs.
Glad I saved all the lovely photographs to look at again when it gets colder.

14 Oct, 2012

Katarina

Old (Slovak) wives tales say, that,
"If fruit trees bloom in the fall, will be a long fall. "
Mine do.
There is also saying that:
"When a lot of mice are in the wild, we would have to wait a long dry autumn."
This I haven´t observed, yet. Lol.

14 Oct, 2012

Stickitoffee

i might have to ask my cat about the mice! she sees more of them than i do!

14 Oct, 2012

Katarina

Good point. Let me know then.

14 Oct, 2012

Katarina

P.S. I think Stevie saw some recently at his yard :))

14 Oct, 2012

Stickitoffee

there was definitely one yesterday morning! [but it is no more!]