making sugar

My Grandmother was not fond of autumn. “Everything dies” Maybe she had a touch of seasonal affective disorder. (SAD) We are fortunate to be living in such a dynamic temperate zone. Thank the deciduous trees and falling temperatures. On warm, sunny days the leaves make sugar via photosynthesis. But cool nights trap the sugars in the leaf which build up, giving us the yearly display. The Crayola Crayon Company might feel inadequate when in East Tennessee. (No matter how big their box and exotic the names, such as Mango Tango, Sunset Orange, and Pink Flamingo”)

This is the Big South Fork National Park. (click to enlarge)