Orange Quote Notice “[Orange] is one of God's favorite colors—He stuck it right there between red and yellow as the second color in the rainbow. He decorates entire forests with shades of orange every autumn. It shows up in sunrises at the start of the day, sunsets at the end of the day, and in the glow of the moon at the right time of night.” -- Reggie Joiner, The Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide... What’s the first color that comes to mind when you think of the colors you see in nature? The green of grass and trees? The blue of the oceans or the sky? Gray clouds on a rainy day? I’m betting your first answer here does not reference the color orange! And I bet if you thought about it more, you would have said the appearance of the color orange is actually pretty rare, especially as it shows up in the natural world. Apparently, wrong! I like Reggie Joiner’s observation. I have no idea what god's favorite color is--I would hope he (or she) likes color in the first place, and I guess she (or he) is entitled to have favorites. Because it's happy and eye catching and because it's a color I like, I also hope Reggie Joiner is right that god has a preference for orange! Nonetheless, more to the point, Reggie sends out a great reminder that there's more orange out there in the natural world than we might have guessed. Notice those sun rises and sunsets and even changes in the color of the sun at varying times of the day. Take a walk through fall foliage to revel in some wonderful shades or head outside at night to notice the varying colors of the moon. And once you start thinking about it, that’s only the beginning. What about some especially lovely flowers? Actual orange trees in certain parts of the world? Orange markings on some birds? Fruits? Vegetables? Other? And, as well, there’s what Reggie also reminds us, the inimitable array of colors so present at times when we’re lucky enough to see the totality of the color spectrum in a rainbow. Pretty amazing if you put your mind to it how many surprising things you can first notice and then enjoy. How do these ideas resonate with you, how might you take time this week to notice more orange or another color of your choice, and more generally, what are one or two things you might try to simply notice more? Cherry Heart Red/Orange/Yellow/Gold Reading of the Week* You’re Already On the Right Path! Cherry Heart; Cool Lemonade; Final Sunset If these cards have come to you, they’re reminding you to appreciate where you are on your life’s journey. They’re doing so in very powerful and diverse ways, so the sum total of the learnings of the characters in these cards must be important! Cherry (of the cherry Heart fable) is a waitress at a cute little restaurant. She is well liked, has a cute apartment and a boyfriend who could be a little more attentive. There are things in her life (the boyfriend) she wants to change but to do so she first has to understand what a wonderful and dynamic person she already is. The cherry pie she is about to serve may seem incomplete because there’s a piece missing, but really, as is she, it’s already a pretty tasty “cherry “heart!” As well, the characters in Cool Lemonade and Final Sunset came to the perspective of self acceptance in very different ways. As a boy, the narrator of Cool Lemonade, now a grandfather, wanted badly to leave home and experience the wider world. His bags were packed. His plans were made. Only a series of unforeseen events—the sudden death of his father—kept him at home. Was he bitter? As it came to pass, although he couldn’t have predicted it, the life he ended up with—working a family farm and becoming a leader in his community-- was exactly the one that made him happiest. In turn, Final Sunset is a fable about a war veteran who came to understand the importance of living ones dreams in response to all the horror of war he witnessed firsthand. Three different people. Three different life styles. The lesson is the same: the more good you can find in yourself and your circumstances, the more will come to you. How do these characters and their circumstances resonate with you, and in what one or two ways this week might you take a couple of specific actions on this basis? *Based on the fables from Tori Hartman’s card deck. World Series Fun FactsWorld Series Fast Facts
By CNN Library (CNN) -- Here's a look at what you need to know about Major League Baseball's World Series. The Boston Red Sox are the reigning 2013 World Series champions. October 21, 2014 - Game one of the 110th World Series is scheduled to take place. October 23-October 30, 2013 - The Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Facts: The annual baseball series, referred to as the Fall Classic, is played between the American League and National League champions. The first team to win four of the seven games wins the championship. The World Series was played in a best-of-nine games format in 1903 and 1919-1921. Through 2013, the American League has won 63 World Championships and the National League has won 46. [mlb.com site has incorrect tally] The New York Yankees have won the most World Series championships at 27 and the St. Louis Cardinals come in second with 11. The New York Yankees have won back to back World Series more than any other team, six times, 1927 and 1928, 1936 through 1939, 1949 through 1953, 1961 and 1962, 1977 and 1978, and 1998 through 2000. Timeline: 1903 - The first World Series is played. The Boston Pilgrims beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, five games to three. 1904 - The World Series is not played. The National League champions the New York Giants refuse to play the American League champions the Boston Pilgrims, due to rivalry between the leagues. 1905 - The World Series resumes after guidelines for the series are drawn up. 1918 - The Boston Red Sox win the World Series but don't win again until 2004. Legend has it the Red Sox are cursed after Boston trades Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. 1919 - In five games to three, the Cincinnati Reds beat the heavily favored Chicago White Sox. Almost a year later in what is dubbed the Black Sox Scandal, eight White Sox players, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, are accused of conspiring with gamblers to intentionally lose. The eight players are later acquitted in a 1921 trial but are banned for life from professional baseball by new commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. A ninth player, Joe Gedeon of the St. Louis Browns, is also banned for life for having prior knowledge of the fix. 1956 - The only no-hitter in World Series history, a perfect game. New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers, game five pitched by Yankees' Don Larsen. Yankees win 2-0. 1992 - The Toronto Blue Jays become the first non-U.S. team to win the World Series. They also win the 1993 World Series. 1994 - The players' strike causes the World Series to be canceled. 2004 - The Boston Red Sox become the first team in history to come back from a 0-3 deficit in the playoffs and go on to win 4-3, landing them a spot in the World Series matchup. They win the World Series for the first time in 86 years in the fourth game by a score of 3-0. October 28, 2009 - The latest date the World Series has ever started. November 22, 2011 - MLB and the MLBPA announce that in 2012 Postseason play will expand by a second Wild Card being awarded to the Club in each league with the second-best overall record among Clubs that do not win a division. October 23-30, 2013 - Playing in Boston, the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-1 in game 6 to win the series. http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/us/world-series-fast-facts/ Candy Corn Fun Facts 7 Things You Never Knew About Candy Corn By Penny Klatell, PhD, RN on October 26, 2012 in Food for Fun and Thought, Holidays It’s candy corn time! Those little tri-colored triangles have celebrated over 130 birthdays and are still going strong. Here are 7 things you probably never knew about candy corn: 1. Candy corn was created in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company. It was quite popular among farmers who loved the corn kernel shaped candy that looked different than a lot of other candy. The Goelitz Candy Company, famous for their candy corn, began selling their brand around 1900. They still make candy corn today, but their company name has changed to the Jelly Belly Candy Company (guess what else they make). 2. Candy corn, a type of candy that’s over 130 years old, is a “mellow cream,” or candy that’s made from corn syrup and sugar with a marshmallow kind of flavor. It tastes rich, but it’s actually fat-free. 3. The original three colors of candy corn: orange, yellow, and white, mimic a corn kernel although each piece of candy is about three times the size of an actual kernel. The wide side of the triangular candy is yellow, it’s orange in the middle, and the pointy end is white. 4. Although 75% of the annual candy corn production is for Halloween, you can find it year round in varying holiday colors. There’s: • Brown (chocolate flavored), orange, and white Indian corn for Thanksgiving •Red, green, and white Reindeer corn for Christmas •Red, pink, and white Cupid corn for Valentine’s Day, and •Pastel-colored Bunny corn for Easter 5. A serving of Brach’s Candy Corn – which can be found just about everywhere -- is nineteen pieces and has140 calories (approximately 7.4 calories per kernel)., zero grams of fat, 70 mg of sodium, 36 grams of carbs, and no protein. Candy corn has 3.57 calories per kernel. A large bag of Brach’s candy corn is 22 ounces and has about 300 pieces. Ingredients in Brach’s candy corn: sugar, corn syrup, confectioner’s sugar glaze, salt, honey, dextrose, artificial flavor, gelatin, titanium dioxide color, yellow 6, yellow 5, red 3, blue 1, sesame oil. 6. According to the National Confectioners Association, candy makers will produce nearly 35 million pounds of candy corn this year; about 9 billion individual kernels of corn. It’s so popular that it has its own day; October 30 is National Candy Corn Day. 7. Originally candy corn was made by hand. Sugar, water, and corn syrup were cooked into a slurry (a thin mud consistency) in large kettles. Fondant (a sweet, creamy paste made from corn syrup, sugar, and water) and marshmallow were whipped in to give it a smooth texture and make it soft to bite. The hot mixture was poured into “runners,” or hand-held buckets that held 45 pounds of candy mixture. Next, men called “stringers” would walk backward as they poured the steaming mixture into trays coated with cornstarch and imprinted with kernel-shaped molds. They made three passes; one each for the orange, white and yellow colors. Today, the candy recipe is still pretty much the same but the production is mechanized. A machine fills trays of kernel-shaped holes with cornstarch to hold the candy in corn triangle shape. The holes are partially filled with white syrup, then orange syrup, followed by yellow syrup. The mold is allowed to cool and the mixture hardens for about 24 hours. Then a machine empties the trays allowing the kernels to fall into chutes. A big sifter shakes loose any excess cornstarch and finally the candy corn is glazed to make it shine. Candy Corn Flavors Candy corn and candy corn flavors are big – apparently, according to Time, appearing in booze, bagels, cookies, and beyond. Nabisco released a limited-edition of candy-corn Oreos, exclusively for Target (but they also can be found on Amazon). They have yellow-and-orange cream filling sandwiched between vanilla wafers. Wal-Mart has candy corn yellow, orange, and white jumbo M&Ms with white chocolate filling. http://www.eatouteatwell.com/7-things-you-never-knew-about-candy-corn/ Why Are Pumpkins Orange?Why Are Pumpkins Orange? Pumpkins Never Stop Asking Why What causes pumpkins to turn orange? Well they're not always orange! They can be white, red, yellow, green, even blue! This "Never Stop Asking 'Why?'" answer is brought to you by eHow! Pumpkins change color from green to orange for the same reasons tree leaves change color in the fall, and they do it under the same conditions. Most pumpkins contain organic pigments called carotenoids that give their flesh and skin the classic deep orange tint. Not all pumpkins turn orange, though -- some are selectively bred to be white, red or even blue. Here are a few factors that lead to a pumpkin's color: Day Length With the longer nights of fall, pumpkins on the vine gradually slow down and stop their production of chlorophyll. This green pigment, necessary for photosynthesis, degrades and the carotenoids are revealed, causing the pumpkin to change color to shades of orange, red and yellow. Temperature Warm, sunny days and cool nights with no freezing temperatures can accelerate color changes in both pumpkins and fall leaves. Moisture How much moisture is in the soil affects when pumpkins turn orange. If the summer has been a dry one, the color change may be delayed. Because of their orange color, carrots and sweet potatoes also contain lots of carotenoids. Some carotenoids show up as a yellow color rather than orange and are dominant in vegetables such as corn and fruits such as bananas. Even some green vegetables, including spinach and broccoli, have large amounts of carotenoids hiding under all that deep green chlorophyll. http://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/why-are-pumpkins-orange History of the Jack O' Lantern History of the Jack O’ Lantern Every October, carved pumpkins peer out from porches and doorsteps in the United States and other parts of the world. Gourd-like orange fruits inscribed with ghoulish faces and illuminated by candles are a sure sign of the Halloween season. The practice of decorating “jack-o’-lanterns”—the name comes from an Irish folktale about a man named Stingy Jack—originated in Ireland, where large turnips and potatoes served as an early canvas. Irish immigrants brought the tradition to America, home of the pumpkin, and it became an integral part of Halloween festivities. The Legend of “Stingy Jack” People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years. Did You Know? The original jack-o'-lanterns were carved from turnips, potatoes or beets. Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.” In Ireland and Scotland, people began to make their own versions of Jack’s lanterns by carving scary faces into turnips or potatoes and placing them into windows or near doors to frighten away Stingy Jack and other wandering evil spirits. In England, large beets are used. Immigrants from these countries brought the jack o’lantern tradition with them when they came to the United States. They soon found that pumpkins, a fruit native to America, make perfect jack-o’-lanterns. http://www.history.com/topics/halloween/jack-olantern-history Everything Fall !!If you are lucky, you live in one of those parts of the world where Nature has one last fling before settling down into winter's sleep. In those lucky places, as days shorten and temperatures become crisp, the quiet green palette of summer foliage is transformed into the vivid autumn palette of reds, oranges, golds, and browns before the leaves fall off the trees. On special years, the colors are truly breathtaking. How does autumn color happen? leaf 1 For years, scientists have worked to understand the changes that happen to trees and shrubs in the autumn. Although we don't know all the details, we do know enough to explain the basics and help you to enjoy more fully Nature's multicolored autumn farewell. Three factors influence autumn leaf color-leaf pigments, length of night, and weather, but not quite in the way we think. The timing of color change and leaf fall are primarily regulated by the calendar, that is, the increasing length of night. None of the other environmental influences-temperature, rainfall, food supply, and so on-are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with Nature's autumn palette. Where do autumn colors come from? A color palette needs pigments, and there are three types that are involved in autumn color. • Chlorophyll, which gives leaves their basic green color. It is necessary for photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables plants to use sunlight to manufacture sugars for their food. Trees in the temperate zones store these sugars for their winter dormant period. • Carotenoids, which produce yellow, orange, and brown colors in such things as corn, carrots, and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas. • Anthocyanins, which give color to such familiar things as cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums. They are water soluble and appear in the watery liquid of leaf cells. Both chlorophyll and carotenoids are present in the chloroplasts of leaf cells throughout the growing season. Most anthocyanins are produced in the autumn, in response to bright light and excess plant sugars within leaf cells. During the growing season, chlorophyll is continually being produced and broken down and leaves appear green. As night length increases in the autumn, chlorophyll production slows down and then stops and eventually all the chlorophyll is destroyed. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf are then unmasked and show their colors. Certain colors are characteristic of particular species. Oaks turn red, brown, or russet; hickories, golden bronze; aspen and yellow-poplar, golden yellow; dogwood, purplish red; beech, light tan; and sourwood and black tupelo, crimson. Maples differ species by species-red maple turns brilliant scarlet; sugar maple, orange-red; and black maple, glowing yellow. Striped maple becomes almost colorless. Leaves of some species such as the elms simply shrivel up and fall, exhibiting little color other than drab brown. The timing of the color change also varies by species. Sourwood in southern forests can become vividly colorful in late summer while all other species are still vigorously green. Oaks put on their colors long after other species have already shed their leaves. These differences in timing among species seem to be genetically inherited, for a particular species at the same latitude will show the same coloration in the cool temperatures of high mountain elevations at about the same time as it does in warmer lowlands. How does weather affect autumn color? leaf 4 The amount and brilliance of the colors that develop in any particular autumn season are related to weather conditions that occur before and during the time the chlorophyll in the leaves is dwindling. Temperature and moisture are the main influences. A succession of warm, sunny days and cool, crisp but not freezing nights seems to bring about the most spectacular color displays. During these days, lots of sugars are produced in the leaf but the cool nights and the gradual closing of veins going into the leaf prevent these sugars from moving out. These conditions-lots of sugar and lots of light-spur production of the brilliant anthocyanin pigments, which tint reds, purples, and crimson. Because carotenoids are always present in leaves, the yellow and gold colors remain fairly constant from year to year. The amount of moisture in the soil also affects autumn colors. Like the weather, soil moisture varies greatly from year to year. The countless combinations of these two highly variable factors assure that no two autumns can be exactly alike. A late spring, or a severe summer drought, can delay the onset of fall color by a few weeks. A warm period during fall will also lower the intensity of autumn colors. A warm wet spring, favorable summer weather, and warm sunny fall days with cool nights should produce the most brilliant autumn colors. What triggers leaf fall? In early autumn, in response to the shortening days and declining intensity of sunlight, leaves begin the processes leading up to their fall. The veins that carry fluids into and out of the leaf gradually close off as a layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf. These clogged veins trap sugars in the leaf and promote production of anthocyanins. Once this separation layer is complete and the connecting tissues are sealed off, the leaf is ready to fall. What does all this do for the tree? trees Winter is a certainty that all vegetation in the temperate zones must face each year. Perennial plants, including trees, must have some sort of protection to survive freezing temperatures and other harsh wintertime influences. Stems, twigs, and buds are equipped to survive extreme cold so that they can reawaken when spring heralds the start of another growing season. Tender leaf tissues, however, would freeze in winter, so plants must either toughen up and protect their leaves or dispose of them. The evergreens-pines, spruces, cedars, firs, and so on-are able to survive winter because they have toughened up. Their needle-like or scale-like foliage is covered with a heavy wax coating and the fluid inside their cells contains substances that resist freezing. Thus the foliage of evergreens can safely withstand all but the severest winter conditions, such as those in the Arctic. Evergreen needles survive for some years but eventually fall because of old age. The leaves of broadleaved plants, on the other hand, are tender and vulnerable to damage. These leaves are typically broad and thin and are not protected by any thick coverings. The fluid in cells of these leaves is usually a thin, watery sap that freezes readily. This means that the cells could not survive winter where temperatures fall below freezing. Tissues unable to overwinter must be sealed off and shed to ensure the plant's continued survival. Thus leaf fall precedes each winter in the temperate zones. 5 What happens to all those fallen leaves? Needles and leaves that fall are not wasted. They decompose and restock the soil with nutrients and make up part of the spongy humus layer of the forest floor that absorbs and holds rainfall. Fallen leaves also become food for numerous soil organisms vital to the forest ecosystem. It is quite easy to see the benefit to the tree of its annual leaf fall, but the advantage to the entire forest is more subtle. It could well be that the forest could no more survive without its annual replenishment from leaves than the individual tree could survive without shedding these leaves. The many beautiful interrelationships in the forest community leave us with myriad fascinating puzzles still to solve. Where can I see autumn color in the United States? trees You can find autumn color in parks and woodlands, in the cities, countryside, and mountains - anywhere you find deciduous broadleaved trees, the ones that drop their leaves in the autumn. Nature's autumn palette is painted on oaks, maples, beeches, sweetgums, yellow-poplars, dogwoods, hickories, and others. Your own neighborhood may be planted with special trees that were selected for their autumn color. New England is rightly famous for the spectacular autumn colors painted on the trees of its mountains and countryside, but the Adirondack, Appalachian, Smoky, and Rocky Mountains are also clad with colorful displays. In the East, we can see the reds, oranges, golds, and bronzes of the mixed deciduous woodlands; in the West, we see the bright yellows of aspen stands and larches contrasting with the dark greens of the evergreen conifers. Many of the Forest Service's 100 plus scenic byways were planned with autumn color in mind. In 31 States you can drive on over 3,000 miles of scenic byways, and almost everyone of them offers a beautiful, colorful drive sometime in the autumn. When is the best time to see autumn color? Unfortunately, autumn color is not very predictable, especially in the long term. Half the fun is trying to outguess Nature! But it generally starts in late September in New England and moves southward, reaching the Smoky Mountains by early November. It also appears about this time in the high-elevation mountains of the West. Remember that cooler high elevations will color up before the valleys. The Forest Service's Fall Color Hotline (1-800-354-4595) can provide you with details as the autumn color display progresses. Persons of any race, color, national origin, sex, age, or religion, or with any handicapping condition are welcome to use and enjoy all the facilities, programs, and services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Discrimination in any form is strictly against agency policy and should reported to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/fhp/pubs/leaves/leaves.shtm Fall Leaves Report for New YorkWeek of Oct. 1-7 fall map4Spectacular Peak Fall Colors Appearing In New York State Adirondacks, Catskills and other areas to be at peak and near-peak this weekend This is the fourth 2014 FALL COLOR REPORT for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. FALL COLOR REPORTS are issued every Wednesday afternoon. Whiteface Mountain Albany, N.Y. - The progression of fall colors took a dramatic leap forward across most of New York State over the past week with spectacular peak and near-peak colors expected this weekend in various areas of the Adirondacks and Catskills regions, as well as the northwest portion of the Capital-Saratoga region, according to spotters for Empire State Development's I LOVE NEW YORK program. Many of I LOVE NEW YORK's foliage spotters are reporting that this year's colors are among the most impressive seen in recent years and that the transition is proceeding rapidly. Lake Placid In the Adirondacks region, foliage spotters at Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington predict peak colors for the weekend with 70 percent leaf change and leaves of amazingly brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange. Also in Essex County, at Lake Placid, spotters note that foliage will be just past peak this weekend. While some trees have lost leaves, others are still very brilliant. Look for muted shades of orange, brown, gold and yellow leaves with some isolated areas of bright red leaves. Spotters in the Mt. Arab/Tupper Lake areas of Franklin County expect just past peak conditions this weekend with 95 percent color change and ochre, russet, copper, mustard, merlot, pumpkin, apricot and varied hues of yellow leaves of muted brilliance amongst the remaining green. Foliage in Speculator in Hamilton County is at peak with 90 percent color change and should remain that way through the weekend. Colors are spectacular and include bright shades of red, orange and yellow. Also in the county, foliage will be near or at peak this weekend in the Indian Lake area, with 75 to nearly 100 percent color change, depending on the area. Leaves are very bright with shades of red predominating along with this year's outstanding color, orange, as well as emerging shades of yellow. In Herkimer County, spotters in Old Forge are predicting very near peak conditions for the coming weekend, with peak expected next week. Look for 90 percent color change and very bright leaves of red and orange. In Warren County, expect 50-60 percent color change and near peak foliage in the northern part of the county. Reports coming in from North Creek are calling for peak foliage at elevations of around 2000 feet. Colors are bright and spectacular and, according to spotters, are the best in years. Look for leaves of bright red, shades of yellow, rust and some remaining green. In the areas around Brant Lake and Pottersville there's a brilliant mix of orange, yellow, red and rust leaves. In the southern part of the county, around Lake George, some areas are still mostly green with pockets of color containing emerging shades of yellow, orange, red and rust. Look for 35-40 percent color change and leaves at midpoint of transition. In Essex County, spotters in the Lake Champlain area based at Crown Point predict 60-85 percent color change this weekend with many vivid clusters of color including yellow, orange, red and green. Leaves will be midpoint to near peak. To the northeast in Willsboro look for leaves 40 percent changed and at midpoint of transition. Bright shades of yellow and orange predominate, along with areas of rust browns and bright reds. Foliage spotters in the Capital-Saratoga region expect color conditions over the weekend ranging from peak to midpoint. In Fulton County, spotters based at Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center in Benson predict 75 percent color change with bright colors and near peak conditions. Look for blended red, red-speckled orange, dusky yellow and metallic brown leaves. Also in Fulton County, foliage spotters reporting from the Southern Adirondack Pines Campground & Cabins in Pine Lake (in Adirondack Park) and from Gloversville are predicting peak conditions at higher elevations with 75 percent color change and near peak foliage at lower elevations. The brilliance of the leaves ranges from average to bright and vibrant. Leaves are bright shades of red, orange, yellow and rust. In Rensselaer County, spotters predict 55-65 percent color change in the eastern and northern portion of the county and near peak conditions this weekend, while the county's western and southern areas will be at about 35-50 percent changed and at midpoint of transition. In the northern and western portions of the county, look for a variety of colors, including bright shades of orange, yellow and red. In the western and southern parts of the county, look for bright shades of red, orange and yellow. In Albany County, foliage spotters in Voorheesville reporting from Thacher Park predict up to 60 percent color change with bright yellow leaves along with touches of red. Foliage is at midpoint of transition. Schenectady County spotters reporting from Schenectady expect 50-55 percent color change with brilliant shades of yellow along with a tapestry of red at midpoint of change. In Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs leaf peepers predict 35 percent color change with bright, vibrant yellows, oranges and reds visible throughout most of the area with subtle touches of gold. Windham Valley In the Catskills region, the amount of color encountered this weekend will be very dependent upon elevation. In Greene County in the Northern Catskills, spotters based in Catskill note that color change is coming on fast and will be near or at peak by the weekend with 85-90 percent color change. Green County spotters reporting from the high peaks around Windham, Hunter and Prattsville expect peak foliage by the weekend with 80 percent color change and bright leaves of red, yellow and orange. In Ulster County, foliage spotters reporting from the Highland area predict color changes of 75-90 percent this weekend and near peak foliage, with greater color change in the higher elevations. Look for a full range of bright, beautiful shades of yellow, orange and red. Foliage spotters at Belleayre Mountain in Highmount predict ideal conditions for leaf peeping this weekend with near peak leaves 80 percent changed. Look for spectacular shades of red, yellow and orange appearing everywhere. Color change in the Kingston area is expected to be approaching midpoint for the coming weekend with stunning shades of red along with wine, rusty-orange and yellow leaves. Delaware County will be near peak this weekend with 75 percent color change and bright red, yellow and orange leaves. Foliage spotters in Sullivan County also predict near peak foliage for the weekend with 60 percent color change marked by leaves of gorgeous orange, brilliant scarlet, bold burgundy and bronze. In Central New York, near peak foliage will be arriving in the Utica area this weekend according to Oneida County spotters. Look for 75-80 percent color change with leaves of average brilliance and isolated pockets of very bright color. Predominating colors include various shades of orange, gold, bronze and amber, highlighted with vibrant shades of yellow and splashes of reds and purples. Chenango County spotters based in Norwich predict near peak leaves with 65 percent change and vibrant shades of orange and red predominating. Near peak foliage is also predicted for the Mohawk area in Herkimer County. Look for 60 percent color change and yellow and red leaves predominating. Leaves are changing rapidly in Otsego County, where spotters in Cooperstown are calling for near peak leaves this weekend with 50-60 percent color change and brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Broome County will see midpoint to near peak foliage with 55-60 percent color change and bright yellow, red and orange leaves. In Schoharie County, Cobleskill-based spotters predict 50 percent color change with yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. Madison County leaf peepers reporting from Hamilton expect leaves at midpoint of change and an increasing amount of orange and yellow leaves surpassing red leaves in quantity, along with some purple in the mix. In the Finger Lakes region, spotters in Watkins Glen in Schuyler County predict 75 percent color change and very brilliant colors for the weekend with near peak leaves along with some isolated areas of peak colors. In Steuben County, spotters based in Corning expect 75 percent color change and near peak foliage on the western side of the county and 60 percent color change and leaves at midpoint on the eastern side around Corning. Look for brilliant leaves of yellow, orange, gold and red. Tioga County expects foliage to be at midpoint of change with 50 percent leaf transition and vivid red, yellow and orange fall colors. In Tompkins County, spotters in Ithaca predict 50 percent color change for the weekend with pockets of bright oranges and reds and some muted yellows. The hillsides have more color than the lower valleys. Ontario County, spotters note, has had perfect fall weather, with warm, sunny days to showcase the beautiful reds, glowing yellows and dazzling oranges that have emerged on the trees. The hills will be showing off midpoint leaf transition of around 60 percent, with changes of 40-50 percent in the surrounding valleys. In Monroe County, spotters based in Greece predict trees around midpoint of change with 35-40 percent leaf transition. The trees that are changing are predominately yellow in color, but some are also bright red and orange. The remaining trees are showing a lighter olive green color (away from the deep green of summer) as trees turn at a quick pace. Leaves to the south are further ahead in progression than those along Lake Ontario. Cayuga County should see 35 percent color change with lots of gold leaves of average brilliance along with some shades of red. Syracuse and Onondaga County will also be at midpoint of change with 35 percent color change and very bright splashes of yellow, along with shades or red and purple. Wayne County will be at midpoint of change with 35 percent leaf transition and bright red, orange and yellow leaves. In Livingston County, fall colors are still in the early stages. Look for 30 percent transition with average to bright shades of yellow and orange, along with some touches of red. Yates County is expecting 30 percent color change with touches of red, yellow and orange leaves emerging from the predominately green backdrop. Chemung and Cortland counties are expecting 25 percent color change with red, yellow and orange leaves of average brilliance. Seneca County expects 10 percent color change over the weekend with midpoint conditions arriving over the next week or so. Allegany State Park In the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, spotters at Allegany State Park in Cattaraugus County are predicting near peak foliage for the weekend with mostly yellow leaves of average brilliance along with a touch of red in the maples. In Little Valley, spotters are predicting near peak foliage with 60 percent color change. Light green and rust are the predominate colors with some oranges and reds of average brilliance mixed in. Some isolated areas may be at peak. Spotters in Chautauqua County expect midpoint foliage with 60 percent change and a mix of bright orange and red leaves. In the Greater Niagara region, foliage spotters in Niagara Falls in Niagara County expect foliage nearing midpoint of change for the weekend with a bright mix of yellow and orange leaves. In Orleans County, look for 40-50 percent change and colors at midpoint of transition. In Wyoming County, spotters based in Perry expect leaves to be still in the early stage of transition with 25 percent change expected. There is still a lot of remaining green, but the fall colors are becoming more prominent and vibrant, especially in Letchworth State Park. Erie County spotters based in Buffalo are predicting 20-25 percent color change with bright gold, orange and red leaves emerging. Genesee County expects 20 percent color change with gold and deep burgundy highlights along with bright touches of red and orange from the Maples. In the Thousand Islands-Seaway region, spotters in Jefferson County in Alexandria Bay expect midpoint conditions with 50 percent color change and yellow, orange and red leaves of average brilliance. In St. Lawrence County spotters also expect 50 percent color change. Leaves will be near peak or at peak in the St. Lawrence Seaway area of the county and peak and just past peak in the Adirondacks portion. Predominating fall colors are orange, red, purple and yellow. Oswego County foliage spotters are calling for midpoint conditions by weekend with 40 percent change. In northern Oswego County areas such as Pulaski, Sandy Creek, and Altmar, yellows, oranges and reds are taking over with average to bright brilliance. The foliage aong the Salmon River is beginning to look more colorful and bright. Touches of orange and red dominate the color scheme in the southern parts of the county. Oswego is seeing a variety of colors, with bright red and orange predominating. In the Hudson Valley, look for midpoint to near peak foliage in the Highland area of Ulster County. Nearly 75 percent color change is expected with bright and beautiful shades of red, orange and yellow bursting through the remaining green backdrop. In Orange County, spotters based in Goshen are calling for 50 percent color change and a brilliant mix of sparkling red, orange, wine, melon, peach and yellow leaves. Rockland County spotters in New City and at Bear Mountain State Park expect foliage to be at midpoint by the weekend with 50 percent color change and bright orange, red and yellow leaves. Look for 40 percent leaf change in Columbia County. Spotters in Hudson are expecting midpoint conditions for the coming weekend with bright yellow and orange leaves along with some deep shades of red. Dutchess County spotters expect foliage heading toward midpoint this weekend. Look for 30 percent or more change around Poughkeepsie. Predominating colors are mostly bright yellow and there are also a lot of gold, russet and orange leaves, with touches of red. The northern and eaAstern portion of the county should be more advanced and at midpoint this weekend. Westchester County is seeing more shades of red than usual. Expect 25-30 percent color change this weekend and a nice mix of gold and yellow leaves. On Long Island and in New York City color change is still in the very early stages with no more than 10 percent change expected for the weekend. http://www.iloveny.com/seasons/fall/foliage-report/#.VC7edmPu3IU Why do Leaves Change Color??We all enjoy the colors of autumn leaves. The changing fall foliage never fails to surprise and delight us. Did you ever wonder how and why a fall leaf changes color? Why a maple leaf turns bright red? Where do the yellows and oranges come from? To answer those questions, we first have to understand what leaves are and what they do. Photosynthesis Leaves are nature's food factories. Plants take water from the ground through their roots. They take a gas called carbon dioxide from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. Oxygen is a gas in the air that we need to breathe. Glucose is a kind of sugar. Plants use glucose as food for energy and as a building block for growing. Photosynthesis The way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and sugar is called photosynthesis. That means "putting together with light." A chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. Autumn Preparations for Winter As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how the trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. autumn leaves sceneryAs the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because they are covered up by the green chlorophyll. The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn cause the leaves turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves. It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful fall foliage colors we enjoy each year. http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/leaves.html
1 Comment
12/27/2014 07:37:22 pm
The postings on your site are always excellent. Thanks for the great share and keep up this great work!
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