What causes the change of leaf color?
According to Science Made Simple, the reason the leaves change color in fall is because the trees are responding to the shortening days. Trees prepare for winter by shutting down photosynthesis, which is the process by which they make food (sugar) from sunlight, carbon dioxide, chlorophyll, and water. Chlorophyll makes the leaves green and as the chlorophyll is depleted through photosynthesis, the green color disappears and the colors of yellow and orange remain. The darker colors like red and purple are a response to cooler evenings which change the color of the remaining glucose in the leaves. 2010 foliage schedule in New Hampshire Each year VisitNH.gov provides an online foliage report and, alternatively, they also have a toll free phone number, (800) 258-3608, which provides the foliage report. VisitNH.gov currently has the 2009 foliage report, but will be updated to the new 2010 foliage report in early September. Use this information to plan your foliage viewing. Great New Hampshi
