Autumn colour and plant science

It's a rainy day at the farmette, with a temperature of 10C going to 18C. We needed the moisture. It's been very dry for the last couple of weeks.

We are well and truly into autumn. You can always tell when the colours emerge on the many old maples that ring the property. This one is right at the end of the driveway. The reds, golds and bronzes are actually the trees losing their green coats and exposing their real colours underneath.

The green is a result of chlorophyll production, and when the days get cooler and sunlight hours get shorter, the factory starts to shut down for the winter. Maples produce a special red pigment called anthocyanin, along with the carotene and xanthophyll that make the oranges and yellows. Cool, eh?

The burning bush in the front bed is small, but spectacular with its incandescent red. It must be LOADED with anthocyanin, and the conditions this year (cool nights, sunny dry days) have been perfect for the show.

Most of the flowers are done, except for the yellow chrysanthemums and the panicle hydrangea, which are now turning a bright pink. That's the anthocyanin doing its magic again.

My yellow mum plants in front are glorious with lots of blooms. They're so welcome right now. They are the opposite of most flowering plants, craving shorter days and longer, cooler nights. Perfect for autumn at the farmette. I read that having security lights on will actually stymie their ability to bloom. Who knew?

A bonus is the lime green spirea on the west side of the house. I finally got smart and cut it back hard after the first bloom a few months ago. Doing that allows the plant to rest and recuperate, putting out new growth.

Again, because the weather conditions are just right, it has rewarded me with a new flush of pretty pink flowers. Not as many as in the early summer, but gorgeous, nevertheless.

The fall colours are amazing and we can just enjoy the display. For me, it's also very interesting to find out the how and why it all happens. Nature is astonishing. Until next week.

Gratuitous cat photo courtesy of Fred, who has taken over our dear departed Beatrix Potter in the "lumping" department. He's usually completely covered but this time, he got into his extra-cute mode.