Rochester Sees a Change in Color

In these first few weeks transitioning into October, many Rochester residents have taken notice to a colorful change in scenery. On Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010, autumn officially began. With a chilly start, autumn welcomed us with beautiful sights just outside our doors. Clusters of multicolored trees and piles of crunchy leaves are now calling to Rochester's free-spirited habitants this season.

Peering out windows and doing double-takes in the car, Rochester citizens are coming out to set their eyes on the wonders of nature. As most people know, when autumn arrives, it brings an abundance of color in the trees as well as large amounts of colorful leaves on the ground. As summer reaches an end, we witness a shortage in sunlight. According to Answers.com, with this new lack of sunshine, the chlorophyll responsible for the green pigment in leaves is suddenly reduced. The normal green leaves that we see will turn into various shades of red, yellow, orange, or brown, depending on the type of tree and the pigments that it contains. So now with a new span of colors alongside of the streets, many autumn enthusiasts are celebrating the arrival of their favorite season. Autumn is the preferred season for many, according to an online survey site, Quibblo.com, who provides statistics on America's favorite seasons. The results of their "Favorite Season" survey conclude that 33% of the majority votes that autumn is indeed their favorite season, followed closely by summer, then winter, and finally spring. For Evan Borkenhagen, a senior at Mayo High School this year, the autumn season is a time for change. "For most, [autumn] is a season of things going grey and dying, but for me it's like a rebirth for friends and opportunities," stated Borkenhagen. Like most kids, Evan occasionally finds himself lying with
heaps of leaves on a nice day, as seen here on the right. For frolickers or people like Evan Borkenhagen who enjoy a good time outdoors, taking a walk down a local nature trail or tumbling into mountains of leaves can prove to be a great time. The outdoorsy type may also find autumn to be a perfect time to take photos. Whether a photographer or not, everyone in the community may enjoy snapping pictures of the beautiful scenery. Seen here on the left is a photo taken near the Mayowood Mansion in south-west Rochester, where color provides the perfect touch for photography.

This won't last for long though, as many Rochester residents may have noticed, this season is going as quickly as it came. As we approach winter, we'll see less sunlight, and the leaves will soon die and fall from the trees. Don't let this sadden you though, because autumn will be back again next year. Until then, embrace this season, and thoroughly enjoy the colorful scenery and the joy that autumn brings to Rochester, Minnesota.