This year autumn officially arrived in Cleveland on Monday, September 23 at 3:50 a.m.

We have about three weeks to go before it ends on December 20.

This year some of the trees in our Jefferson Park neighborhood (on Cleveland’s west side) – maples, sweet gums,

honey locusts, mulberries, and even one gingko (from an adjoining neighborhood) -- were resplendent in their colors as the photographs (taken between Oct. 22 and 31) show.

Not all the leaves changed color.

And the colors reflected differently in the light depending upon the angle of the sun on sunny days and differently

on overcast days – of which there is no shortage in Cleveland.

During summer, wth long days, while the leaves appear green --- the yellows, oranges, and reds of autumn are there but we don’t see them because the green color from the chlorophyll in the leaves dominates. During autumn, with short days – the chlorophyll breaks down revealing the autumn colors.

Bright sunny days and cool nights bring out the best in the autumn colors..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

The lone gingko – a short distance outside Riverside Elementary School (14601 Montrose Avenue) did change color this year. I am a volunteer teacher at the school – this is my 15th year – and for first time I noticed the bright colors. The gingko is native to China and has fan shaped leaves. The gingko has shown up in fossil records dating back to 270 million years.

 

 

 

This photograph show the leaves from our neighbors maples (see first photograph) adding color to our driveway.

 

 

 

Enjoy the rest of the autumn season which except for one snowfall has been very pleasant so far.