Kaleidoscopic Nature

First snow of the Season(Photographed by Sudarshan) 

Right now the outside temperature is -8 Degree Celsius and I am sitting in my bed, astounded at these snow clad trees and the pavements outside the window. How can it get so very white as if there is only one universal color- white? I could never imagine that white can look so beautiful. White is supposedly the symbol of peace and at this moment I can feel a spiritual peace just at a glance of this supra-mundane view outside. However, after those extravagant colors of fall, I find it hard to believe that all colors have vanished overnight and the canvas is white again. The changing fall foliage never fails to surprise and delight us. Indeed, it’s difficult to digest that the same scenery which was vivacious and charismatic only couple of days back is now serene and peacefully lying- all white.

Snow fall (Photographed by Sudarshan)

One interesting thing to observe the deciduous trees like  Maple, Aspen and oaks which changes color once summer ends thus, making fall foliage so colorful. There is a series of chemical changes that makes this possible. Knowing the science behind this makes this even more interesting. To begin with; most of us know that the chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is the green pigment that imparts green color to the trees.

As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how these trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis hence these trees will rest, and live on the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As 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 to turn this glucose into a red color pigment. The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves after the food factory shuts  

Indepence Pass,CO(photographed by Sudarshan)

It is the combination of all these chemical changes results in the beautiful fall foliage making autumn the most colorful season of the year. One thing I particularly like after the dried leaves shed off and covers the pavements and the roads, and that’s the crackling uproar of those dried leaf while walking on them.

Eventually, this is the first time in my life I have witnessed a true riot of colors in Colorado this year. I visited Aspen with my family and we were bewildered to see those yellow Aspen trees miles after miles. Yellow was so pronounced that it appeared almost artificial. Aspen is the most photographed place in United States.

Aspen,CO,USA(photographer by Sudarshan)

I grew up in Assam when I have always thought that spring is the most beautiful season as that’s the time when I could see flowers after a very dry winter. Somehow that sweetness of summer and the kindness of winter mingle together to form the best possible combination for the flowers to bloom. So traditionally spring has always been envisaged to be associated with romance and falling in love. However, for me personally these were the months of hard work, examinations and lot of late night studies. After living is Colorado I have realized that autumn is the best season of the year at least in here, it’s refreshing and so very colorful.

Maroon Bells,CO,USA(photographed by Sudarshan)

Autumn is a fashion treat for the voguish folks, especially for those who love wearing colorful clothing; during fall those garish colors replace the pastel shades predominantly worn during summer. Fall fashion is all about stylish jackets and mid-calf or knee high boots. Boots offer a great fashion statement, be it a sued ones or sophisticated leather ones they are very much “in” during fall. Wear those chunky jewelries and team it up with your outfit to add that zing that matches up with the harlequin trees around. It offers a great way to welcome winter when you can hardly flaunt your silhouette wearing those light, flowing and colorful fabrics. Winter’s harshness asks for layers of clothing which can save you from hypothermia.

This year winter arrived earlier than normal. Before the fall could properly wind up; with trees ritualistically shedding all their dried leaves, snow fall started bringing down the temperatures below zero degrees right in the month of October. This is a little unusual as autumn succumbs to winter late October or early November every year.

Every time with these varieties of changes nature is trying hard to give that message that it’s worth to be flexible. Flexibility brings freshness in our lives with time and as we age. When the Mother Nature herself is not rigid and subjects herself to constant changes then, is it not a commonsense to be diligent enough to imbibe this in our own lives?