If you have taken a look at the trees around Michiana over the past couple of days, you might have seen some already starting to change colors. We'll start to see more and more fall colors around the area for the next several weeks before we hit our peak in the fall color season sometime in mid-October. But, you might be asking yourself, why do we see these color changes in the fall season?

Fall Color as of Sept 18th

Fall colors will be peaking in Michiana by mid-October.

Well, chlorophyll, the substance in the tree leaves that gives them the green color, is produced in the leaves with a big help from the Sun. As the days slowly get shorter and we lose sunlight, that chlorophyll production process slows down dramatically. That allows other leaf colors to show, producing vivid yellows, oranges, and reds. Colder temperatures and even dry, arid weather can also help end chlorophyll production early and speed up fall color peak times.