The splendor known as fall is taking place in southern Minnesota.

According to Al Batt, local nature enthusiast and master gardener, leaves get their green color from chlorophyll, a pigment found in the leaves that enables them to process sunlight. As we get into shorter days and longer nights, with the accompanying lower temperatures, changes take place in the leaves.

Trees shut down their food-making factories and get ready to spend the winter living off the food they have stored.

The chlorophyll moves from the leaves to the branches, trunk and roots.

As the green disappears, it allows the yellow and orange pigments that were always present to become visible. The red colors are created as the weather warrants.

&uot;Warm, sunny days and chilly nights (below 45 degrees, but without frost) create the brightest (meaning red) colors,&uot; Batt said.

In this area, the average peak color is from early to mid-October. The middle section of the state, including the Twin Cities, is most colorful the end of September to early October.

The northern part of the state has its peak color occurring in the middle of September to early October.

The trees along the North Shore of Lake Superior turn color a week later than the inland trees due to the warming effect of the lake.

The area of the Mississippi River Valley from Red Wing to LaCrescent offers brilliant autumn hues of red, russet and gold, Batt said, adding, &uot;There are so many trees in that area and there are numerous scenic stops and overlooks.

It makes for stiff competition when it comes to a fall foliage tour.&uot;

The fall color season may progress slightly earlier than usual due to the dry conditions. &uot;I think that dry weather can hamper fall color because without enough water, leaves cannot form as many sugars, thus less pigments,&uot; Batt said.

Still, this area is great for leaf-peeping, Batt said.

Yellow colors, caused by the chemical xanthophyll, are common in ash, basswood, birch, cherry, cottonwood, elm, hickory, ironwood, mountain ash, poplar, willow, boxelder and some maples.

Red colors, caused by the chemical anthocyanin, are typically present in sumac, some oaks and some maples.

Orange colors are caused by the chemical carotene can be found in some oaks and maples.

&uot;The red in the maples is breathtaking and the sugar maple with its offering of a palette containing reds, oranges and yellows is a sight to see, but I would have to say that I enjoy the golden leaves of the willow the most,&uot; Batt said.

Enjoy the colors on the trees. They don’t last long, and heavy winds are their worst enemy.

Soon, they’ll be a colorful carpet on the ground, just waiting to be raked up.

(Contact Geri McShane at lifestyles@albertleatribune.com, or call 379-3436.)