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Show What Brings On Those Fall Colors? The spectacular beauty of fall colors that we are witnessing wit-nessing is generally credited to Jack Frost. Yet Jack Frost isn't due the credit according to Melvin Burningham, USU Area Horticulturist. IF FROST were the only factor involved, the leaves would turn brown, dry up, and drop off. Factors that bring those brilliant scarlet yellows and red contrasting colors is due to the shortening of daylight, moisture, temperature, sunlight intensity inten-sity and the variety of plants. The most brilliant colors appear after a warm dry summer followed by early fall rains. Late fall rains produce drab coloration, whereas dry weather increases the manufacture of sugars which produce the dull red colors. AS YOU see the red appearing ap-pearing on the hillsides, you . can be assured that it is the leaf color change of oak, maple, poison ivy or a number of other trees or shrubs. The yellow may be cottonwood or quaking aspens, as-pens, etc. In the home yard the most spectacular red appears on the Winged Euonymus or the Virginia Creeper vines. The yellow may be the ash, maple, locust. Golden Rain, or many other trees or shrubs. SO YOU see depending on the season, the weather or the species of trees determines the fall color and the brilliance. Jack Frost gives us only a little color that is dull, concludes Mr. Burningham. |