The new leaves that are opening give the forest a reddish tint. Interestingly, the pigments that make new leaves look red are the same that make them beautiful in the fall. The red pigment is in the leaf all through the summer--the color is just overwhelmed by the green pigment that develops later. In the fall, as the tree prepares to drop its leaves before winter, the green pigment breaks down first, allowing the red to show again.
In the woods, purple trillium (Trillium erectum) has been blooming. Trillium is one of the early spring wildflowers that bloom before the trees fully leaf out. By blooming early, the plants can get the sunlight that they need before the forest canopy leaves them in the deep shade.
No comments:
Post a Comment