By Amanda Shepperd, University of Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
Who’s looking forward to fall? Did you know that the leaf color changes that we all love and enjoy are from the absence of different pigment combinations in the leaves that we are enjoying? First the color green comes from the abundance of chlorophyll pigment feeding the tree throughout the spring and summer. Then in the fall the chlorophyll breaks down and other pigments are more abundant and show through. Flavonoids show up as a beautiful yellow, carotenoids show up as a beautiful orange, and lastly, one of my favorites, red comes from the pigment anthocyanin.