Autumn Foliage Color
The foliage colors at the Harvard Forest, Harvard University's 3000-acre field laboratory and classroom in the town of Petersham, in central Massachusetts, are similar to those throughout the northeast. The peak of the autumn colors at the forest is around mid October, earlier than that in Boston and the New York City area by about two weeks, and later than those in central Vermont and New Hampshire by about two weeks. This site will introduce you to those changes and the science behind them.
This homepage was created by:
Dr. John O’Keefe, Coordinator of the Fisher Museum, Harvard Forest
jokeefe@fas.harvard.edu
and Dr. David Lee, Biological Sciences, Florida International University
leed@fiu.edu
It was posted 1 December 2004.
For further questions about the homepage, or requests for use of images at higher resolution, contact the above
The Plants
Description and images of the principal plants that provide New England autumn colors
A Leaf Photo Gallery
A close-up look at the leaves of common trees and bushes. You can see how dramatically different the leaves of many trees and shrubs appear.
The Science Behind The Color Change
Removing the mystery of color change through explanations of leaf pigments, leaf structure and function, the process of leaf color change and the biological significance of color change
Factors Influencing Autumn Leaf Color
Although always impressive, autumn leaf colors vary from year to year, and seem to be more intense in some regions. What makes for a good year?
Autumn Foliage Color:Past, Present, and Future
Autumn colors were different a century ago in southern New England, and they will likely continue to change during this century. These changes are largely due to human activity, including land-use changes, introduced pests and diseases, forest management, and climate change from fossil fuel emissions.
Time Lapse Photographs of Autumn Color Changes at the "Pasture", Harvard Forest
Shows the timing of the color changes in individual trees in a typical autumn in one location.
The Autumn Landscapes at The Harvard Forest
Local autumn landscapes near near The Harvard Forest
Readings About Leaf Color Change
References providing background and recent ideas about the nature and function of autumn coloration.