Why We Love Fall Colours and the Benefits

“Seasons of mists and mellow fruitfulness”

John Keats

The line from John Keats poem Ode to Autumn says it all. Autumn, or fall is always a magical time.

While growing up in London, autumn was always the best time to go visit a giant horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum), at the local park. Underneath this tree were piles of its seeds, or “conkers” as we called them. I was always fascinated by the split pods and the striking rich brown striations on the seeds inside. This is lure of fall, the ability to evoke positive feelings and memories.

Why You should embrace the season

If you have the opportunity, take yourself out to a forest in the fall to refresh, and reset your energy flow. If you want to be the creators of your own well being, use the time in autumn to start the process. It is a time when trees prepare for their dormant period. All of nature, including us need to prepare, slow down, in order to connect with that which sustains us.

What causes fall colours

Here is a quick reminder of why leaves of certain trees change colour in the fall. The green chlorophyll in the leaves of deciduous trees captures the energy of the sunlight. The plant uses this energy to sustain itself by making its own sugars.

When there is less sunlight, the fall colour pigments, which are already within the green leaves, are more prominent because the green chlorophyll has done its job for the year, and is heading for veranda beach, as the required energy has been stored in the tree. The previously subdued pigments of reds and yellows step up to the plate and let their light shine.

What basking in fall colour means for us

We are part an integral part of nature. Many of us are now in urban environments with a high dependence on technology. It has been shown that such natural environments can induce stress.

Being in a fall colour spectrum brings about a chemical reaction in our body, and it is usually positive with reductions in anxiety and stress.

Ongoing Benefits

The full benefits of experiencing fall colours are only now just beginning to be analyzed. One study indicated that human response to plant colour was a reaction to the survival information it provided. If the colour was was seen as usual and healthy, it might indicate a good food source.

The colours of fall make people feel good. They are the same colours that we experience in a sunset. They are the putting away of the season, with the comfort of knowing the cycle continues.

It is a time in farming communities for reaping the benefits of their hard work, and to showcase exceptional produce, artisanal skills, and community spirit, especially via fall fairs. It is a season when nature’s canvas is bursting, and blinding our senses as it stocks up.

For city folk from concrete landscapes, it gives people the opportunity reconnect with nature by visiting places where the colours burst forth, allowing them into the heart of the season.

Where to Go

I recall the famous obituary to Sir Christopher Wren, the architect of St. Paul’s Catherdral, London which stated If you seek his monument, – look around you. It is the same with nature. It is there if you look, even if you live the most dense concrete saturated location, look up at the balconies where people make an effort to green their space. Many cities now go to great lengths to green their spaces. So get out and take advantage of the beautiful vistas that nature provides. Where will you go to enjoy this season?

Places to go to enjoy the full impact of fall colours:

Local Parks

National Parks

Botanical Gardens

Local Gardens

Virtual Gardens

Let us know in the comments below where you go to enjoy the colours of fall.