Kentucky Showcases Autumn Through a Kaleidoscope of Colors
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 7, 2021) — Every October, the Bluegrass State breaks into reds, oranges and yellows as Mother Nature prepares for winter. With the many forests Kentucky has to offer, the state is one of the best places in the nation to observe the transition of summer into autumn.
Hardwood forests blanket roughly half of the Commonwealth with about 175 tree species, many of which are known for their bright fall hues. Most of Kentucky will be at peak around the second to last week of October, beginning around Oct. 18. The color changes begin in the eastern portion of the state, gradually spreading westward as the season progresses.
During the spring and summer months, chlorophyll, the green pigment in leaves, photosynthesizes sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugars that trees need to survive and thrive. This process takes place in numerous cells throughout the leaf and is what gives leaves their green color.
When daylight starts to fade and a chill enters the air during early fall, it is a sign for trees to stop their food making process. Chlorophyll breaks down and the green color diminishes in the plant, revealing the colors which make autumn notable.
“The change is not merely for show; it's part of a very important ecological process,” said Laurie Thomas, extension forester in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Once the green color starts to fade, the oranges, yellows and reds become visible. The pigments which cause these colors — carotenoids, beta carotene and xanthophyll — are present throughout the growing season. However, they are masked by the chlorophyll.”
Carotenoids are responsible for giving the leaves their orange and yellow hues while the anthocyanin pigment is responsible for giving the leaves beautiful red, purple and crimson colors. Anthocyanin production increases dramatically in autumn, especially if the days are warm and sunny followed by cool nights.
Each species of tree provides their own signature colors. Hickories and tulip poplars offer up leaves of yellow. Sugar maples will turn hues of orange, while oak and dogwood trees bring forth shades of red.
Minerals taken into the leaves during the growing season are recycled after the leaves drop to the ground. When the leaves decompose, their nutrients again are available to be taken up by the area’s plant life, and their organic materials nourish the soil.
“Kentucky enjoys a full palette of fall colors because we're fortunate to have a diverse climate, diverse topography and diverse soil composition,” said Thomas. “This is a great time to get out and enjoy the beauty of a Kentucky autumn.”
Kentuckians who want to know when their part of the state is close to peak fall color can visit the Smoky Mountain Fall Foliage Predictor at https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/.
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Urban Forest Initiative’s Interactive Tree Map online is an easy source for navigating UK’s urban forest. The college’s fourth annual Tree Week is taking place Oct. 9-16, 2021, with events happening all across Kentucky, including the Tree Diversity Walk, Tree Planting on Arbor Day and Walk With a Doc.
Check out our list of five spots on campus, in Lexington and across Kentucky to take advantage of autumn’s debut across the Commonwealth.
Five spots on campus:
- Mathews Garden
- Maxwell Place
- South campus tree allée
- The Arboretum State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
- The Bradley/Bowman Courtyard behind Bradley Hall
Five places in Lexington:
- Ashland, The Henry Clay Estate
- Catalpa Road
- Legacy Trail
- McConnell Springs Park
- Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
Five places across Kentucky:
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.