The BrightRedOfFallRed leaves and berries on a branch in a forest by the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. It appears to be showing off in Fall.

The original image has been blended and painted in Photoshop.

Leaves change colors in Fall when chloryphyll production is blocked off and the true colors of the leaves show through. These leaves must contain a lot of anthocyanins, which is what produces the red color. Chloryphyll production is needed to produce food for the trees during the months when it is awake, but when it goes into hybernation for the winter, it can survive on the food that has been stored. In the Fall, just before it goes to sleep, the true colors of the leaves start to show, in a brilliant display, just before they fall to the ground.

In our lives, we can often cover our own true colors while we chase after survival or success. What we are can take a backseat to trying to make it in this world. We often hear of people finally feeling free to be themselves in their later years of life, once they have stopped chasing after all that the world has to offer, or they feel more secure. If we choose to get our identity and security from God, rather than what we can do with our own hands, we can let go, and let our true colors show much earlier in life.

We were each created with a unique personality and purpose, the sooner we grab onto that, the sooner we can bring a splash of color into the world. The Bright Red of Fall

Red leaves and berries on a branch in a forest by the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.  It appears to be showing off in Fall.  

The original image has been blended and "painted" in Photoshop.

During Spring and Summer, leaves are generally green due to the amount of chlorophyll in them.  The chlorophyll absorbs light energy and uses it, along with carbon dioxide, to make glucose to provide energy for the tree.  Leaves change colors in Fall when chlorophyll production is blocked off and in this time, the true colors of the leaves show through.  These leaves must contain a lot of anthocyanins, which is what produces the red color.  Chlorophyll production is needed to produce food for the trees during the months when it is awake, but when it goes dormant for the winter, it can survive on the nutrients and energy that have been stored.  In the Fall, just before the tree goes to sleep for the winter, the true colors of the leaves start to show, in a brilliant display, just before they fall to the ground.

In our lives, we can often cover our own true colors while we chase after survival or success, blocking who we were created to be with what we think it takes to produce wealth.  What we are can take a backseat to trying to make it in this world.  We often hear of people finally feeling free to be themselves in their later years of life, once they have stopped chasing after all that the world has to offer, or once they feel more secure financially.   If we choose to get our identity and security from God, rather than what we can do with our own hands, we can let go, and let our true colors show much earlier in life.   

We were each created with a unique personality and purpose, the sooner we grab onto that, the sooner we can bring a splash of color into the world.

This video clip show a little of what the "painting" in Photoshop looks like:

PaintingRedLeaves

Here are a couple more images taken in the same Fall time forest:

CommunityOfFallTreesA Missouri forest by Lake of the Ozarks in Fall. The sun streams through the leaves that are changing colors and creates a lovely yellow scene. There are green, orange, and yellow hues, with a forest floor of brown and orange that are ready to break down and become new soil to host more trees in the future.

The forest is such a peaceful and resilient place. Designed perfectly by the Creator in a circle of life that continues through the seasons.

Community of Fall Trees

MissouriFallBacklitForestA backlit Missouri forest by the Lake of the Ozarks. It is Fall and the leaves are changing colors. The sun lights up the foliage and creates a yellow cast across the whole landscape.

Missouri Fall Backlit Forest

Prints and products of all these images, and others, may be purchased here:  https://inthelight.pixels.com/collections/leaves
 

And since you stayed with me this long, a special treat, here is what I looked like on the day, way back in October of 2019, that I took these pictures.  Isn't Evan adorable?  It was even his birthday.    

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