Autumn
Although calendars often show September 21st as the first day of autumn, the autumnal equinox is actually September 22nd or 23rd. On this day, the sun's rays are directly over the earth at the equator.
Many people throughout the world celebrate the coming of the new year in autumn. It is then that they mark the end of summer vegetation (the old year) and the arrival of the new year. The new year is indicated by the completion of the harvest and by the leaves turning
WHY DO LEAVES CHANGE COLOR IN THE FALL?
Plants make their own food all summer. They use water, a gas from the air called carbon dioxide, and sunlight. They get help from something called chlorophyll. The chlorophyll gives leaves their green color.
Winter days are short and dry. Plants stop making food. In some leaves, the chlorophyll goes away in the fall. Then we see orange and yellow colors. These colors were there all summer, but the green covered them up.
Some leaves turn red. This color is made only in the fall, from food trapped in the leaves. Brown colors are also made in the fall. They come from wastes left in the leaves.
Pictures of Leaves
