foliage in Maine

I am lucky enough to live in an area of the world that experiences some of the MOST beautaiful scenery to behold.

According to the FAQ at the Maine Foliage site:

Springtime and plenty of chlorophyll.
Each spring leaves contain green, red, orange and yellow pigments. Throughout the summer, the green is dominant due to chlorophyll production.

Day length, rainfall and sugar.
Many factors influence autumn coloration and the most important being day length, followed by rainfall, sugar accumulations in the leaves, wind, and prolonged periods of cool, bright, sunny autumn weather without a killing frost. The brighter the light during this period, the greater the production of these pigments.

Cool autumn days.
When the days of autumn are sunny and cool, the nights chilly but not freezing, the brightest colorations usually develop. This is when the production of chlorophyll , which is created by sunlight during photosynthesis, slows down.

Autumn colors.
As sunlight hours decrease, the green starts to disappear and the other pigments - red, orange, yellow, scarlet and purple - come alive!

photo by Paul Cyr ~ he has a paraplane and flies around taking photos around the town

Getting ready for winter.
Meanwhile the tree produces a waxy substance to protect itself from the elements once a leaf separates from the branch. That's why leaves can withstand strong wind and rain during the summer, but come down so easily during a fall rainstorm. The key is to get a picture of your favorite tree when you see it: don't wait!