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Fall in Minnesota to me has always been like the call of the loon: A cue for contemplation tinged with a little melancholy and a reverence for beauty, but not without some sense of foreboding for what is soon to come, that which shall remain unnamed.
It won’t be long before Minnesota’s temperatures dip decisively and the leaves accelerate their flight from trees that send them on their way once the heavy lifting is done, during what must be the most ruthless of times in the leaf/tree relationship.
I’ve always found it interesting that leaves turn so beautiful this time of year not because some new pigment is produced in the leaf, but because something is taken away to reveal what has been there within the leaves all along.
More scientifically, the U.S. Forest Service reminds us that “During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green … in autumn, chlorophyll production stops and eventually all chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids (the yellow, orange and red colors) and anthocyanin (the blue, red and purple) are then unmasked.” That is beautifully said, U.S. Forest Service.
Personally, I wish the leaves would change color and stick around, then go green again with the spring sunshine. But it’s not meant to be, says University of Minnesota Duluth leaf expert Jessica Savage, since “Unlike us, trees cannot go inside in the winter and need to prepare for the cold … . [C]olor change and leaf drop is part of this acclimation process.” She said the “W” word, not me.
For my money, maple trees are where the true artistry of fall comes into its own. Leaves that are deep crimson, orange, sunshine yellow and more — sometimes bleeding these various colors together all on the same leaf — let go to grace canvases of still-green grass. If you are poor in eyesight or squint, it is easy to imagine the ground is covered in what appears deliciously like sherbet, though unfortunately at precisely the time of year when ice cream and other warm weather snacks are going out of favor.