Color pigments found in leaves differ among plant species and can vary from year to year. Colors are most vibrant when plants have had adequate moisture throughout the season, followed by sunny ...

How changing leaves give off spectacular autumn palettes. Clare Mulroy. USA TODAY. The reprieve from a sweaty summer is oh, so sweet – fall foliage, cozy sweaters and pumpkin everything.

She further notes: "Soil can hold up to 30% more carbon if the autumn leaves are left to rot. Carbon feeds the soil food web, particularly mycorrhizal fungi, which improves not only the trees ...

Conditions remained warm, (the third warmest autumn since 1884) but the drought broke. The fifth driest summer since 1890 gave way to the 13th wettest autumn since 1836. The trees started to grow ...