The beautiful colors of fall make it a great time of year to be outdoors in New Jersey. Green leaves turn yellow before bursting into flaming orange and red, producing one of nature's great annual spectacles. Whether taking photographs of the trees, leaf-collecting or just taking a walk or driving tour to enjoy the colors, New Jersey offers plenty of opportunities to make the most of fall before winter draws in.
The beautiful fall colors are the result of chemical changes within the leaves themselves. Leaves start off green due to the presence of chlorophyll, a green-colored pigment the leaves use to create glucose from water, carbon dioxide and the sun's energy. The shorter days of fall lead the tree to prepare for winter by cutting the leaves off from their supply of water and nutrients. Chlorophyll production comes to an end, allowing the carotenoid pigments to reveal their tan, orange, yellow and brown colors. The remaining chlorophyll continues to produce plant sugars, but since the connection with the tree has been cut, these sugars remain in the leaves. They combine with sunshine to create anthocyanin, which is responsible for the pink, purple, red and blue colors.
As anyone who has enjoyed watching the colors throughout fall will know, the colors change as the season progresses. The progression of colors from yellow through orange to red takes place over several weeks, with each wave taking between one and two weeks to complete. Fall comes earlier to some areas than others, meaning that the beautiful outdoor exhibition of fall colors arrives in the mountainous areas of the United States first, before moving southwards. Typically, New Jersey can expect to experience fall colors between mid-October and early November.
The changing colors during this period is explained by the chemical changes taking place within the leaves. You might also notice that trees with lots of direct sunshine appear more red --- this is related to the fact that sunshine is necessary for the creation of the chemical anthocyanin which turns the leaves red.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection suggests experiencing the fall colors in one of the state parks or forests. Stokes State Forest offers a grandstand view from 1,653 feet at Sunrise Mountain, while from the High Point monument in High Point State Park you can see the ridges of the Poconos and Catskill mountains and the Wallkill river valley. If you would prefer to see the fall colors from the comfort of your car, Visit New Jersey recommends a fall colors circular driving tour taking in Lake Hopatcong, Waterloo village, the Allamuchy Mountain State Park and the 18th century Moravian village of Hope.
