Fall Colors

How many different colors of leaves can you find this fall?

God designed tree leaves with special cells (structures) that use energy from sunlight to make food for the tree each spring and summer. This process is called photosynthesis (fo-to-SIN-thuh-sis). These food-making cells contain a pigment (color) known as chlorophyll (KLAW-ruh-fil), which makes leaves green.

When days get shorter and colder in the fall, the leaves stop making food. The chlorophyll in the cells breaks down, and the green color fades. Soon it becomes easier to see the colors made by chemicals. Anthocyanins (an-tho-sie-AN-ins) make tree leaves look red and purple. Carotenoids (ker-AH-tuh-noyds) make them look yellow, orange, and red.