Shades of Autumn all around us

Southeast Texas is not known for its beautiful fall foliage. People travel to New England in autumn to see the leaves change color; they don’t come here.

But this year, the weather is bringing out the best in our tress! I snapped this picture with my cellphone of the trees along a bayou in Meyerland the other day. The leaves on the birch trees are brilliant yellow and gold, which looks great against a blue sky and white-washed tree bark. Maple trees pop with deep red and orange colors.

I've also noticed the deep, coppery color of the soft leaves of the bald cypress trees. Chinese pistachio and sweetgum trees are other beauties you might see in Houston area yards right now.

Tree leaves change color as the days get shorter. Reduced sunlight causes the tree to produce less of the green chlorophyll. The intensity and timing of the color change are a reflection of past weather, not an indication of the future. Cool days are thought to help produce more a more colorful display.

But it doesn’t work the other way around; a more colorful display does not produce cooler days. Trees don’t change color because they sense a cold winter ahead.