This photograph of a tree in downtown Anacortes tells it all. Between raindrops and the changing color of the leaves, we know for certain we are in transition from summer to fall. Soon it will be time for a drive to the North Cascades, beautiful year-round, but especially in the fall. I found information regarding the change of color in leaves from the State University of New Yoark College of Environmental Science and Forestry. They report: “In the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor. At the same time other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange. The autumn foliage of some trees show only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.”