| As residents of Arkansas, we have the | | | | winter for survival. |
| opportunity to enjoy the beautiful colors of fall. | | | | The product that leaves produce to feed the tree |
| We are blessed with a vast array of foliage in the | | | | is called, "chlorophyll". This is what gives leaves |
| natural state. We have varied sections of the | | | | their green color in spring and summer. This really |
| state with their own colors of fall. There is the | | | | remarkable chemical combines sunlight, water and |
| Ozarks, River Valley, Ouachita and of course the | | | | carbon dioxide to make sugar and starch for |
| delta regions. The mixture of all the beautiful | | | | trees to feed. The same type of energy our |
| colors; yellows, browns, reds, purples, and | | | | bodies need to function. But in the starting days |
| oranges, are just a breath taking sight in this | | | | of fall this process is broken down because of the |
| wonderful place we call home. There are those | | | | lack of daily sunlight and temperature drops, which |
| who say that the fall foliage in Arkansas rivals | | | | make the chlorophyll, disappear. This starts the |
| that of the New England states. Hundreds of | | | | process of preparing for winter. As a result, we |
| thousands of visitors come to our state each | | | | see the beautiful changing of colors in the fall. As |
| year to enjoy the beautiful colors that splash | | | | this process begins other changes in the trees |
| through the hills and mountains of Arkansas. | | | | also begin. At the point where the leaf's stem is |
| During the fall, Arkansas is a very popular place | | | | attached to the tree, special cells grown by the |
| for visitors. The changing of the colors of the | | | | tree are actually pushed between the stem and |
| leaves is something many residents look forward | | | | the tree, eventually separating the leaf from the |
| to each year. But there is a huge uncontrollable | | | | tree. At the same time this is going on, the tree |
| factor in the color changes each year. That factor | | | | is also sealing the severed place where the stem |
| is called the weather. If we experience hot, dry | | | | was attached to protect itself from bugs and |
| summers, the foliage season won't be as colorful | | | | diseases. When the hard winds of early |
| or last near as long. In hot, dry summers trees | | | | November and December kick up, the leaves will |
| start to shut down early to survive because of | | | | blow right off of the trees |
| drought conditions. This affects the leaves | | | | The fall foliage only lasts a short time so enjoy it |
| changing in the fall. Early frost can also put an end | | | | while you can. Northwest Arkansas begins the |
| to the foliage season. A normal summer with a | | | | color change sometime in late September to early |
| mild fall season means a good foliage process for | | | | October. The peak time for viewing in this area |
| the enjoyment of all. | | | | will usually be in late October. Because of the |
| In normal fall weather patterns, trees sense the | | | | areas elevations, the River Valley and Ouachitas |
| shorter days of sun light. The trees start the | | | | will start their color change around the first of |
| process of preparing for winter. The leaves on | | | | October, with the peak viewing time being around |
| trees are actually the food processing centers for | | | | early November. As for the Delta Region, the |
| the trees and have done their job in producing | | | | color changes occur from early to mid-November. |
| enough food to be stored by the trees during | | | | |